CYR: Alberta, a Beacon of Opportunity

New Alberta growth statistics for the first three months of this year are out, they’re impressive, and it would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity to boast to you about you.

The stats show we currently have the youngest average age in the country, at 38.9 years in 2021, giving our province youthful energy, ambition, potential and a future. Having a youthful population fuels innovation, entrepreneurship, and a fresh perspective that will spur our economic growth and progress. Our young demographic acts as a catalyst for creative thinking and ensures a robust workforce that can adapt to the challenges of this rapidly evolving world.

Now we love our seniors, though having the most youthful Canadian population means we have the lowest relative proportion at 14.5% in 2021 of individuals aged 65 and over. This brings us multiple benefits, including a reduced strain on our healthcare system and increased opportunities for intergenerational collaboration.

In the realm of migration specifically, we have proven ourselves to be an attractive destination, both for individuals within Canada and from around the world. Thanks to the United Conservative Party’s extraordinarily successful ‘Alberta is Calling’ campaign from the summer of 2022, in the first three months of this year alone we saw an influx of near 15,786 people from other provinces, highlighting our appeal to fellow Canadians seeking new opportunities and a better quality of life.

In fact, this ability of ours to attract interprovincial migrants is nothing short of remarkable. In the first quarter of this year, we attracted six times more interprovincial migrants than the next highest province, Nova Scotia, at 2,690.

Additionally, we welcomed almost 35,932 international migrants during the same period, highlighting our global allure and reputation as a land of opportunity. This added to our interprovincial migration means that we had a whopping 51,718 new Albertans call our great province home. The sustained growth in our population is astonishing, with a yearly increase of 4.5 percent since April 2022.

When examining the sources of migration, it becomes clear that people from all corners of Canada are drawn to our promise of prosperity, stability, and a high quality of life, particularly people from Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. This influx of talent and new perspectives enriches our social fabric and contributes to our economic growth.

Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones said it best, “Our government is focused on ensuring Alberta remains the economic engine of Canada for years to come. A strong economy and an environment for good paying jobs will continue to attract people to Alberta – the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

Reference Material: https://www.alberta.ca/population-statistics.aspx