Alberta is projected to surpass British Columbia in population and become Canada’s third most populated province by 2050, as per new Statistics Canada projections released on Tuesday. The agency ran 10 scenarios for Canada’s population growth, with nine of them indicating that Alberta will exceed British Columbia’s population.
According to Statistics Canada demographer Jonathan Chagnon, this shift could occur as early as 2038, depending on current trends. Chagnon noted that political factors, particularly immigration policies, could influence these projections.
Alberta is expected to experience rapid population growth, with estimates ranging between 6.5 million and 8.1 million residents by 2050. The province’s growth is attributed to factors such as interprovincial migration and a higher birth rate compared to mortality.
Mark Parsons, the chief economist of ATB Financial, highlighted that Alberta’s younger population, fueled by migration, is advantageous for the economy as it offsets the retiring baby boomer workforce. However, this growth presents challenges, such as increased pressure on infrastructure, schools, and job opportunities.
To accommodate the rising population, Alberta’s building industry aims to meet demand with support from municipal and provincial authorities. Scott Fash, CEO of BILD Alberta, emphasized the importance of providing sufficient land for development to avoid housing supply shortages and price spikes, as witnessed in previous years.
While Alberta’s major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, have been the primary recipients of population growth, Fash suggested shifting focus towards supporting mid-sized cities to distribute the population influx more evenly across the province.