Record immigration drives Nova Scotia’s population to all-time high

Nova Scotia is seeing record-breaking population growth thanks to immigrants and interprovincial migrants.

Statistics Canada estimates show the Atlantic Province’s population grew by 12,339 residents between October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2019. This includes 7,165 immigrants who came to Nova Scotia during this 12-month stretch.

This growth of 1.28 per cent is the province’s fastest population increase over a 12-month period since 1972 and pushed Nova Scotia’s population to a record 976,768 as of October 1, 2019.

Population growth between July 1 and October 1, 2019, also set a new record for a three-month stretch.

The third quarter of 2019 saw Nova Scotia’s population grow by 5,373 people, of which immigrants accounted for 2,471.

The Government of Nova Scotia said this was the highest immigration for a quarter based on records dating back to the Second World War.

Interprovincial migrants accounted for 1,090 new residents to Nova Scotia. The government said this is the 16th consecutive quarter of positive net interprovincial migration.

“These population numbers illustrate the positive impact immigration is having in our province,” Nova Scotia’s Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, said in a news release.

“Immigration is a priority and is key to filling persistent labour needs and increasing our population.”

The province’s natural growth, which is the difference between the number of births and deaths in the province, has been on a downward trend since 2016.

On the contrary immigration and interprovincial migration have grown in the same time period, according to Statistics Canada data.

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