Temporary residents drive population boom

Better start baking those welcome cookies now, because you’ve got a million new neighbours to welcome.

What happened: Canada’s population grew by more than 1 million over the first nine months of the year, according to newly released Statistics Canada data.

• More than 430,000 newcomers have arrived in Canada since July 1, with nearly 200,000 settling in Ontario.
  

Why it matters: Canada’s population is growing at the fastest pace since 1957. Back then, the baby boom was in full swing, and tens of thousands of Hungarian refugees were arriving.

Yes, but: Unlike then, Canada’s population growth isn’t tied to new permanent residents, with temporary workers and international students making up the bulk of newcomers. 

• Of those who arrived since July 1, ~63% came on temporary work or international student permits, bringing the non-permanent resident population to over 2.5 million.

Big picture: People from Canada’s business community have argued the influx of workers is needed to fill labour market gaps, but others have raised concerns about the outsized share of non-permanent residents making up the population boom. 

Zoom out: Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan posted, “We’re being transformed into a guest worker country instead of a country of citizen immigrants.”—TS