Southeast N.B.'s booming population leads Canada

The Moncton region hasthe second-fastest-growing metro population in the country, Statistics Canada reported this week.

The region,that includes Dieppe, Riverview and surrounding areas, had a population of178,971 as of July 1, 2023 a 6.1per cent increase from2022.

Its growth ratewas essentially tied withthe Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ont., area and was just ahead ofCalgary.The national statistics agency attributedthe growth "in large part to strong international migration."

In New Brunswick, population growth over recent years has smashed records dating back to Confederation.

"The magnitude of the population boom is unprecedented,"economist Richard Saillanttold Information Morning Moncton about the latest figures.

"I mean, we're leading the country, who would have thought?" he said.

"It's a spectacular explosion, and it's spread across southeastern New Brunswick."

WATCH | The CBC's Shane Magee explains Moncton's population growth:

Here we grow again: Moncton region among fastest-growing in the country

3 months ago

Duration 1:39

New data from Statistics Canada shows population numbers are changing in communities across New Brunswick.

The Moncton region added 23,893 people, the equivalent ofadding a new town of Riverview, over the last four years.

But in recent years,housing prices and rents havesoared, food banks have reported steep growth in demand, and schools in the Moncton region have turned to using non-teaching spaces and portable buildings as classrooms to keep up with surging enrolment.

Meanwhile, new home construction has lagged behind other Maritime provinces.

Thatgrowth andsharp increases in property assessments set by the provincehavebolstered municipal and provincial budgets.

While Statistics Canada releases provincewide population estimates quarterly, the data released this weekoffers a detailed look at where thebooming population has settled in the province.

Shediac grew to 8,724 people, a 7.6 per cent increase,in one year.Moncton grew by seven per cent, reaching91,085 people, while Dieppe grew by 6.1 per cent to 32,177. Riverview grew by two per cent, to 21,712.

The estimates use 2021 community boundaries, before local governance reformsincreased the size of many municipalities in the province.

The Fredericton region, which includes New Maryland, Hanwell and other rural areas,grew to119,059 in 2023.

The Saint John region, includingRothesay, Quispamsis, Grand Bay-Westfield and Hampton,grew to138,985.

Fredericton, with69,406 people,inched closer to overtakingSaint John, with 75,015 people,to become the province's second-largest city.

The 5,609-persongapis down from almost 20,000 in 2003.

But growth was also recorded in regions across the province that in previous years had been in decline.

"We're seeing something we hadn't seen in at least a generation, which is growth across the board,"Saillant said.

TheMiramichiregion grew to29,411 people, up 5.7 per cent compared to 2019.TheBathurst region grew to32,821, up 3.4 per cent over 2019.

TheEdmundston regionincreased 3.3 per cent since 2019 to reach23,113 people.

In the north, the Campbellton regiongrew by66 people, or 0.5 per cent, to 12,179 people since 2019.

Saillant noted that the increases, driven by migration, immigration or non-permanent residents, mask the reality that deaths still outpace births in some areas.

"So underneath the numbers, the migration numbers are strongbut population growth is less impressive because of natural decrease," hesaid.

Information Morning - Moncton10:30Stats Canada is reporting record high growth for the Moncton region between 2019 and 2023

Richard Saillant is a Moncton-based economist and public policy consultant.

Saillant says he doesn't expect the growth to continue at the same pace, given changes the federal government has announced toimmigration and international students.

"Ottawa is waking up to the reality [of]unconstrained immigration to the country,"Saillant said, saying the growth has been attributed to an affordability crisis.

"But to deal with that, Ottawais effectively making a huge U-turn on migration."

That shift is expected to result in lower population growth in the Maritimes, whichSaillantsays will require careful planning to addresshousing and labour demands.