This release was issued under a previous government.
Four million people now call Alberta home, and Alberta continues to grow at a rapid pace. Over the previous year, Alberta’s population grew by 136,000 people.
The Redford government has a plan in place to accommodate Alberta’s ongoing growth.
“We’re proud of our caring communities and our shared strength in the face of challenge. It’s what defines Alberta and why, over the next decade, we will continue to welcome people to Canada’s fastest-growing province. The new population benchmark we’ve reached today reaffirms what we already know – that we can’t afford to stop building Alberta. Our quality of life depends on it.”
The Building Alberta Plan responds to Alberta’s growth pressures with strategic investments and actions:
- Investing in our families and communities:
A $15 billion investment in key infrastructure over the next three years, including provincial highways, new schools and modernizations, healthcare facilities, significant funding for municipalities as well as the programs that support children, families, seniors and vulnerable Albertans. - Living within our means:
A zero per cent increase in budgeted operating expense for 2013-14, a legislated savings plan, a close examination of every dollar spent through the Results Based Budgeting process, investing wisely and saving for the future. - Expanding market access:
This includes increasing pipeline capacity, promoting Alberta abroad, pursuing a Canadian Energy Strategy, providing services to help businesses export their products and services, and supporting the commercialization of innovation and technology.
Alberta’s population growth
- According to information released by Statistics Canada, Alberta’s population on July 1, 2013 was 4,025,074.
- The province’s recent increase from three to four million has been driven largely by migration.
- At 36.1 years, Alberta has the lowest median age of all the provinces, which creates momentum for further population growth. Alberta has the highest growth rate from natural increase (births minus deaths) of all the provinces, relative to their population size.
- A key factor in attracting new Albertans has been the province’s strong economy. Alberta led the provinces and territories in economic growth and employment growth in each of the past two years and has been among Canada’s leaders for more than a decade.
- Alberta’s population has doubled since 1978, when its population stood at two million.
- In the 22 years following 1978, Alberta’s population grew by another million, reaching three million in 2000.
- It only took 13 more years to add the next million, with Alberta’s population passing the four million mark in July.
- Over the last decade (2003-2013), Alberta had the highest average annual growth rate (2.4%) in Canada, double the national average (1.1%).
- Over the last 20 years, Alberta had the highest average annual growth rate (2.1%) among the provinces.
- Alberta’s population is expected to reach five million mark by 2027 and six million by 2041.
More related information is available online.
Our government was elected to keep building Alberta, to live within its means and to fight to open new markets for Alberta’s resources. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.
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