NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008AE0049-001015 June 30, 2008	Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
B.C. CONTINUES TO LEAD IN ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENTS

VICTORIA – The latest figures from Statistics Canada show British Columbia continued to be a Canadian leader in attracting people from other areas of the country and the world during the first three months of 2008.

 

            B.C.’s population grew by 1.5 per cent, or an estimated 14,383 people, during the first quarter of 2008, for a total population of 4,428,356.

 

            “B.C. is a destination of choice for people to live, work and raise a family,” said Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “B.C.’s economy, job options, low taxes and natural beauty are a strong magnet for people who want a better future.”

 

            Immigration was a large factor in B.C.’s population growth, with 10,058 people coming from other countries, accounting for 18.9 per cent of Canada’s total immigrant arrivals.

 

            The total number of newcomers to B.C. from elsewhere in Canada was 13,513. The largest number – 6,871 – came from Alberta; another 3,585 moved here from Ontario. Only Saskatchewan gained more people than B.C. due to interprovincial migration.

 

            “B.C. is leading the nation in creating jobs, which makes us attractive to newcomers from the rest of Canada, as well as around the world,” Coell said. “We’ve reversed the exodus of the ’90s, with skilled workers and business immigrants from the rest of Canada and other countries now choosing B.C. as the best place on earth to build prosperous lives.”

 

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The BC Stats report is online at www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca. Under the A-Z index in the lefthand navigation bar, choose Migration Highlights, BC Stats release.

 

 

 

Media contact:	Richard Chambers Communications Director 250 952-6508 250 361-7241 (cell)
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