Canadians heading west in droves, 2011 census shows

Census data released Wednesday say Canada is growing. The total population is up, and while Ontario may still be the biggest province, it's Western Canada that is growing the fastest. Scott Laurie reports.

CTV News Channel: Stouffville boasts a big boost

Dave Cash, Chief Administrative Officer of Whitchurch-Stouffville, discusses the town's booming population, and explains he wants to make sure to maintain a small town feel.

CTV British Columbia: Growth in the West

The population in Western Canada has finally surpassed that on the other side of Ontario -- a trend that has been decades in the making, but was compounded by the recent recession. Peter Grainger has more.

CTV Winnipeg: A community's population boom

Census figures were released on Feb. 8, and is seems that the community of Steinbach, Man. is experiencing a population boom. Jon Hendricks reports.

CTV Ottawa: Capital census numbers

Canada's capital region continues to grow at a pace surpassing most other Ontario cities, according to the 2011 census data. Ottawa-Gatineau and Kingston were two of four areas in Ontario whose rate of growth increased. Karen Soloman reports.

CTV News Channel: Canadians aiming for two kids

The University of Western Ontario's Rod Beaujot explains the factors that are contributing to the rate of children per family in Canada.

CTV News Channel: Population shifts in census

Marc Hamel, census manager of Statistics Canada, says the rate of growth for the population has gone up in the past three to five years throughout Canada.

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The future home of River City, a large shopping and condo building, right, is being built next to Clinskill Manor, a Saskatoon Housing Authority apartment building, in Saskatoon, Thursday, February 2, 2012.

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2011 Census: Population and dwelling counts

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Wed. Feb. 8 2012 10:04 PM ET

The first batch of data from the latest Canadian census shows the country's population increased 5.9 per cent between 2006 and 2011, to 33,476,688 people.

For the first time, the data showed that Western Canada – which includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba -- has surpassed Eastern Canada in population, Statistics Canada said as it released its first batch of data on Wednesday. Eastern Canada includes Quebec and the provinces to its east. Ontario is not considered part of Eastern or Western Canada for the purposes of the census.

About 30.7 per cent of Canadians lived in the west when the data was collected, just edging out the east, which had 30.6 per cent.

Over the period between the two censuses, forestry and mining in eastern Canada were impacted by the 2008 recession, while business was comparatively booming in the energy-rich west. As such, economic opportunities continued to draw people westward -- newcomers in particular -- at a faster rate than in past census periods.

While it's impossible to make a direct connection since the short-form census doesn't ask why people moved, Statistics Canada census manager Marc Hamel said it is likely people are following the job market.

"We can probably make some of those associations," he told CTV News Channel on Wednesday. "We have seen the population increase higher in places where people believe there are jobs.

The east also faces an aging population -- something clearly not a problem out west, which had much higher fertility rates.

The country's two fastest growing cities were in Alberta; Calgary and Edmonton, while the only cities to show a decline were in Ontario; forestry-dependent Thunder Bay and Windsor, Ont., a manufacturing town.

The census also showed that more people than ever are moving to the suburbs. Toronto bedroom community Milton -- not so long ago, a small town far away from the city's sprawl -- was the fastest growing municipality in the country. Its population grew 56 per cent over five years, up to 84,362.

The fastest-growing city on the last census -- Barrie, Ont. -- was also a home to thousands of residents commuting to Toronto.

While Ontario remains the most populous province (with 38.4 per cent of the country's people), the attentions of immigrants and long-time residents are shifting elsewhere, causing its growth rate to continue to slow

Wednesday's release of data includes basic information on the Canadian population: where people live, which areas are stagnating and population counts. According to the data, Canada's population rate grew faster than any other G8 nation between the same five-year period, the second time in a row it earned that distinction.

It attributes growth to "slightly higher fertility" and an increase in immigrants and non-permanent residents.

"Net international migration (the difference between immigrants and emigrants) accounted for two-thirds of Canada's population growth during the last 10 years, and natural increase (the difference between births and deaths) for about one-third," said a release posted on the Statistics Canada website. "In contrast, recent population growth in the United States has been mainly the result of natural increase."

Canada's growth comes as other industrialized nations struggle to keep their populations from shrinking.

The census is conducted every five years, counting Canadians and collecting details on where they live, how old they are, and information about various aspects of their lifestyle. It paints a detailed portrait of the country, telling Canadians about our housing, origins, religion, habits, work and quality of life. The 2011 census was conducted last May, and was filled out by 98 per cent of Canadians, said Hamel.

However, this release will different than those in the past, as 2011 was the first census year after Prime Minister Stephen Harper replaced the long-form census with the non-mandatory National Household Survey, the results of which will be released in 2013.

The controversial decision led to the resignation of Statistics Canada head Munir Sheikh, one of many statisticians who have complained the new data will be less reliable.

The census was first conducted in 1666, when French colonial administrator Jean Talon went door-to-door in New France to count its 3,215 people.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Jack - AB
said

The census is trying to determine your ethnicity. Which country you or ancestors immigrated from to Canada. Your citizenship is Canadian but your ethnicity would be some other country based on your or ethnic background of your ancestors. Your ethnicity is then classified as you belonging to that foreign country. ie, German, Greek, Italian, East Indian, Chinese. If those born in Canada answer Canadian then Stats Canada is not able to trace back your ethnicity or roots. Aboriginals are considered to have Canadian ethnicity because they were here first. Just like how Germans were in Germany first. Italians in Italy. English in UK. etc. The ethnicity and citizenship would be identical for the people that were the first ones to live in that country.

Jack - AB
said

Wikipedia defines Eastern Canada starting from Ontario going eastwards. Just like I knew it was. Ontario and Quebec are also referred to as Central Canada and to the east of Quebec is Atlantic Canada or Maritime Provinces. Saying Eastern Canada and excluding ON is just plain wrong by definition. The comparison made was Quebec plus Atlantic Canada versus the West. Not Eastern Canada.

Linda In The Valley
said

@ Michael..... The reason we are not just Canadian is now we are a "Multi-cultural" country. We started to be a hyphenated Canadian when the "B & B" act was introduced. For me "I Am Canadian" thou my ancestory is Irish and British. Wow, Michael lucky you three times a charm!!

peter in mb
said

@Joyce� you are right and you are a Canadian. My mother side is 6 generations in north American one of my great great grand fathers fought in the U.S. civil war. My grand parents were all born in Canada. Both my parents were born in Canada and so was I. I was born in Canada so this is my native country and I am a Canadian citizen. O, Canada our home and native land� It is my home and native land and I am a native Canadian. Poland and the Ukraine where my family came from would not recognize me as one of their citizens. They like the rest of the world would recognize me as a Canadian citizen. So there for I must be a Canadian. I am really getting sick of the census bs racial profiling. Either you are a Canadian citizen or you are not!

gary -AB
said

There are help wanted signs all over the place.Lets forget all this BS-west is this,east is that,Ont has all the political power and of course #1 too many immigrants.People will move to where the jobs are just like my dad 50yrs ago.FYI southern AB best weather in the country in the winter

Cape Bretoner
said

Fort McMoney: full of Cape Bretoners, how many live there? Not as many. Most "go out to work" and come back. I am a Caper and most of us travel back and forth for work. Most Capers would rather do this and live on the island then be broke on welfare. Sucks but we are rather attached to our "Golden Isle". Another thing, you're an idiot regardless of where you come from East or West, there are some great people our West. Take 'er easy.

A Koster
said

While eastern Canadians may have moved for the jobs, I'm going to hazard a guess that the main increases in population growth in BC are from immigration.. we are already more than aware of a housing market that is propped up by mainland Chinese. I'll wait for the part of the census that tells me the racial demographic now.. the last one showed 45% caucasion in the greater vancouver region.

B.J.
said

Blame trhis on the oNtario government. They have done nothing to keep jobs here, London being the latest victim. No he'd rather focus on casinos, so that those with a gambling problem can get their fix even faster. Ontario has been ruined by Mc Guinty and will continue to deteriorate until he is out of office.

Mac
said

How about we enact some Birth Incentives? So we don't see every single major Canadian city have Canadians as the Minority?
Vancouver 55% are not Canadian, Toronto 48% are not Canadian, 41% in Montreal not Canadian.
Where have all the Canadians gone?
Before we have a collapse in our funds for Canadians supporting immigrants, how bout we enact some birth incentives so it doesn't get to that point?

Simple explanation
said

Oil & no more McGuinty non-sense explains why people are going west where common sense and personal responsibility and accountability are favoured over this insane political correctness and all the political lying and deceit.

Doug
said

"I thought we only had Eastern & Western Canada."You thought wrong, genius. Lots of geographical areas are considered to have a "central" area. For the purposes of a study like this your angry dichotomy doesn't apply.

Rose in Calgary
said

Suzy G says The negativity directed towards immigrants on these posts makes me wonder if I made the right decision moving here.===Sadly, I agree with you. I think the emergence of online discourse has flushed the rats out from their holes. Canada has a serious case ignorant, self-entitling, whining Racists.

Jim
said

Maybe it's because you don't have to speak two languages out west. Like every other normal country in the world, the main language is English.

Rose from Calgary
said

@Joyce,If you're a Canadian citizen, you are CANADIAN. Period. Born here , came here, stayed here ... whatever, however, so long as you came here legally and meet the necessary citizenship requirements than you are Canadian. Natural born citizens whether of Arab ethnicity or German, are no more or less Canadian than an African who immigrated from Ethiopia etc.That being said, regardless of how long you have been here we are all ETHNICALLY IMMIGRANTS to this land unless you're Native Indian.Citizenry & Ethnicity are two completely different things.

Ian
said

Alberta perspective showing in some of these comments. Ontario is only Eastern Canada if you are in the West. Ontario (and Quebec most of the time) is Central Canada.A "BTW" to the journalist: 30.x % is not "more than one third." 33.3% is a third!

Jane
said

About time to have equal Parliamentary representation for the West!

Stephen
said

Several things should be noted by the people commenting here:First, for those who oppose easterners moving west to work here is a piece of reality. The east supported the west in the early years, they helped develop the land for this country, and as such it is and should remain available to all Canadians. Secondly, to those who oppose immigrants working here, I have two messages for you. First, all Canadians, with the exception of the Aboriginal population are immigrants from one point or another. The trouble people are giving to the Indian, Arab etc. immigrants making their home here now is no different than the Italians immigrants who came over before them. Every generation has the same complaint, just lobbied at a different group. The second part is that many of the immigrants who come here do so because they offer knowledge and abilities that we as Canadians want in our country. Don’t complain that someone is stealing a job that you are not qualified for!And finally when did this become a nation of bigots, you’re sounding like the American commenters on CNN. :/

Mar
said

@Jack-AB: Ontario is actually in the middle so it really isn't part of Eastern Canada. They explicitly excluded it so that it was clear what they were talking about. Ontario is in the centre, and is the most populous province by far. What they were demonstrating was that the Eastern part of the country is losing population while the West is gaining and Ontario gets its own category. How is this confusing? Now if only parliamentary representation could catch up. Oh, and there is no more racism in the West than there is in the East or Ontario, that is untrue. I have lived in both and witnessed it, sadly racists exist everywhere.

LH
said

@BigBob in Ottawa: Not sure where you are getting your information but the oilsands has a lot more than 30 years left in it. Canada has the second biggest oil reserves in the world next to Saudi Arabia. Plus, there are other industries here, such as Westjet and Shaw to name just 2. Using this information it is time that Western Canada have a bigger say in Parliament, the reality is the population in the country is shifting and still having such a disparity in Parliament seats is grossly unfair to those in the West, especially given the economic burden Western Canada bears to support many other provinces. Its time to make that shift, if nothing else it should be equal.

Watching in Ottawa
said

More people in the West? That's strange...studies do not show an increase in the number of Cowboy Hats being purchased! Joke. What I am trying to say is...lighten up please. Canada, despite everything being said, is a well run country and at the top of the list for best places in the world to live. I am not sure where all the negativity came from...we must have imported it from somewhere like the States. Stop bigotry in it's tracks and set a better example for you kids please.

SF Thomas
said

I'm not surprised that people are moving west considering there is a resource boom and the slump in manufacturing in south-eastern Ontario and Quebec. We should be vigilant remember though that resource booms don't always last forever either. There are many times in history where demand for resources suddenly slumps and it often causes very quick down spirals in the economy and jobs situations, in many cases it happens much more rapidly than manufacturing slumps and downturns in other areas of the economy. I'm concerned that the current plan seems to be to rely mainly on increased resource extraction for economic and job growth. It is better to have a much more diverse economy and include value added products than simply act as an exporter of primary resources.

Marisha
said

I have one major (Alberta Beef) with Easterners coming here. When in Rome... Or go Home! Albertans have heritage and culture we don�t need yours - instead accept ours.

Arby
said

I'm sure Saskatchewan will do just fine as long as the migrant hard core left wingers stay out.SK has had about enough of the NDP and Liberals.BC is stuck in an NDP/Liberal greenpeace nanny state holding pattern.Too bad because the west would be a power complete if BC voted majority Conservative.Alberta is still mostly Conservative and so to all you easterners migrating west please be sure to leave your far left baggage in the east.

Bubba: The American bought us out.
said

Yea, Ontario isn't part of the east or west....we're BANKRUPT cuz we sent all our jobs and money elsewhere! We no longer exist as a province....haven't you guys noticed, the American bought us out!

Happy In Saskatoon
said

The point of this article is not immigration or solely the census. The point is that the West is growing at a faster rate! Instead of complaining about jobs being stolen you may want to check things out for yourself; in Saskatchewan you can not find enough good empoyees (trust me - I'm in recruitment). In fact, you could walk down the street and get a GOOD job in less than 5 mins. That said, instead of unjustly pointing racist fingers move here to get the job you feel you deserve. My company now employs people from all over Canada that work from home in order to keep up with our staffing requirements. Great to see Saskatchwan FINALLY taking off after years of being last place on the totem pole!

Ranger
said

Since Ontario has seemed to disappear into never never land - I have officially decided to start my own province - we will call it Manitario - and it will stretch from Kenora on the west to Thunder Bay on the east, and Dryden will be the capitol, or maybe Ft Frances. It will now be in WEAST -not West or East ..

Rev in VC
said

I like it on the West Coast. Being Chinese descent myself, I love that there's great chinese/asian food here, but also a great diversity in food in general. That being said, I really hate how expensive things are getting here. I don't mind other Canadians moving over here, but what really torques me are all these wealthy chinese immigrants buying up all the property as nest eggs, causing property prices to skyrocket and me without the ability to buy my own place without feeling completely ripped off. I'm getting tempted to move out east. While people used to joke that we were turning into Hongcouver due to the large chinese population, I think this nickname is becoming more appropriate due to the insane cost of living.

Rudy
said

Canada should welcome immigrants as they contribute well to the overall economy. However, those that take work from employers who have no respect for our minimum wage laws should be investigated and prosecuted vigorously, both the immigrant and the employer. If you don't believe that this is happening, you are awfully naive.

Bye BYe Ontario: Why stay and go broke?
said

Yup, we Ontarians are evacuating due to:

1. High provincial taxes,
2. Outrageous hydro costs, while we have a surplus of power,
3. High municipal taxes,
4. High water costs, and we have a surplus of that too,
5. Lyin' politicians, though they lie everywhere,
6. Business is ripping us off too,
7. WHY STAY HERE AND GO BROKE???

I mean rrrreallllyyyy. Why stay. What for?

And then we reward companies like that CAT company who laid off 500 workers after trying to Constructively Dismiss them.

You know, maybe our government won't help those workers, but us little guy Canadians should boycott anything build with their products. We should buy Kubotas instead of CAT products. If our government would go along, we should make that company and it's products unwelcome in Ontario. Customs should make them tear any of their products that they want to ship back here down to nuts, bolt, and washers to pass customs. It's time we took a stand.

And while I'm at it, can anybody tell me one thing we got from that danged Free Trade Deal, except get screwed by the Americans?? Name one concrete thing we got in return, besides one huge box of screws up our collective asses. ONE THING!!!

Jack - AB
said

Did I miss something? "Ontario is not considered part of Eastern or Western Canada." The story says that the East & West are about even split in population but this does not include Ontario anywhere. I thought we only had Eastern & Western Canada. What gives? 30.7% in West, 30.6% in Quebec & Eastern provinces and 38.4% in Ontario. Adding up last 2 numbers gives 69% in Eastern Canada. Thanks to Stats Canada for trying to manipulate the data to confuse Canadians. It just blows my mind how they exclude Ontario from their data to reach a different conclusion. Story should have been that Western Canada now has greater population than Quebec plus the Maritime provinces as Ontario is considered part of Eastern Canada too.

Joyce
said

Michael from the real world; we had a chat on this same topic, if you and our friends and like my husband were born in Canada and the geneoligy dates as far back as yours and our friends and my husband's then does the Census not acknowledge all of you were born here. The media might want to report on these types of issues. I have been a Canadian for allmost 52 years and do not carry dual Citizenship, does that mean one is not Canadian. I would like some feedback on this from commenters and make this a more interesting comment section. I do not agree with the media that so and so is an Etnic Canadian, I took out my citizenship to be a Canadian because we believed in belonging and becoming part of being part of Canada as our chosen Country.

Mark - Alberta
said

Funny how many people are moving to the west (and especially Alberta) from the east, but yet many easterners villify us Albertans as polluters, rednecks and so on. It is now western Canada that is the economic driving force of the nation.

Mark - Alberta
said

Tom in Calgary said "I have some concerns on how these newcomers will be treated out here in the West. We are not known for our tolerance of others."Good grief! Quit speaking for us westerners as there is racism everywhere. With this new census, the west should be getting more Commons seats or some seats are taken away from Ontario and Quebec.

Jim - North Saanich, BC
said

For those who ponder the question 'why?', ask yourself what Brad Wall is doing in Saskatchewan that is different from the shows being run by Messrs. McGinty and Charest in Ontario and Quebec. Encourage incentive, curtail government debt, limit "entitlements", reduce taxes and the people will come and do well. That was the case in Alberta until 'Fast Eddie' meddled in the process but at least the recent Alberta budget showed some signs of common sense so maybe there is hope there yet. With the spectre of the NDP now upon us once again in BC, we too may be joining the ranks of our eastern bretheren sooner than later. More than 50,000 British Columbians headed for Alberta the last time that happened and what goes around, comes around.

peter in mb
said

@Michael from the real world. I agree with you, I hate census with a passion. My family came to Canada before it was called Canada. So I wrought on my census form under the �other� that I was a native Canadian. It caused a bit of trouble because they celled me and said that your are not because I was white and not aboriginal. I said excuse me and sang the first line of (O Canada) � our home and native land�. I said I was born on this land, there for I am a native to this country. That is the way the rest of the world will views me, why cant census? The term native has many meaning but primarily means (place of origin). If enough people say this maybe census will stop asking personal questions that are non of their business.

KC BC
said

I hope the Canadian Government continues to aggressively recruit more immigrants to our country. I am also a fan of some selectivity as to worker qualifications to move into positions that cannot be filled or will not be filled by the present population. Here where we live, immigrants are welcomed warmly and quickly integrated into local society. It is also important to note that many immigrants have afar better work ethic than many of our younger Canadians. These people have not been spoiled and do not have the same sense of entitlement that many of our youth have.( NOT ALL) We often see people of different racial origin working as shuttle drivers, airport workers, etc doing fantastic jobs and being happy. Many, of course, are very overqualified for these jobs but appreciate the opportunity to climb the success ladder. Bully for them!

Left Coaster
said

Canada's immigration policy over the last 20 years was built and designed by the Liberals to manage their political ambitions in order to gain votes in select electoral riding'sThis was done at the expenses of our Social support systems and taxpayers in general ... the proof will be in the problems we will face over the next 20 years with pressure on our Health Structure and demands on Entitlement programs.The Government should realize that at the rate we are taxed the only people that can afford to raise children are civil servants that survive off the taxpayer and immigrants that come here from countries where they have saved money because they were not taxed into obscurity.Let young families keep the money they earn to raise their own families and not redistributed their wealth into wasteful Government Socialism.

Suzy G
said

I am an immigrant who came to Canada with my husband and two kids 20 years ago, to work as a Registered Nurse,at a time when there was a shortage of Canadian trained nurses. I have contributed to the Canadian economy and raised two kids who are also contributing to the world we share. The negativity directed towards immigrants on these posts makes me wonder if I made the right decision moving here.

reidjr
said

Tom in Calgary
The word racism gets tossed around to much just because someone is talking about new canadian's that is not racism as for new canadian's work hard sure there are alot that really do and are great additions but there are company't that do hire a set % that are new canadian's now some times that works out good but in some cases people get hired that are not the best for the job.

Linda In The Valley
said

@ Gerhard....I made no assumption of correct or incorrect information. How do you know that people would intentionally fill in false information based on privacy issues, and now they will willingly fill out a "Non-Mandatory" form? Hummm! That's a hard one for me to fathom. The people that code the long form only code one piece of the puzzle because it's not part of their job!

BYEE
said

Aww poor poor Ontario. I think the reason so many people are going west is due to no jobs in the Maritimes!!! Which made, What you call Eastern Canada SO BIG. Cough maybe Harper Should Created some good jobs here more then the Halifax ship yard and them Eastern you call them will come home to the real East The Maritime BYEE

KenjiSan
said

I'll never move east, I'll never move west.The east is better, the west is better.Its the PC's fault, its the Liberals fault.Don't go to Mexico, Mexico is safe, you're stupid, I'm not, etc.Not sure what value is added to have people post comments on these stories.

Tom in Calgary
said

Just reading the comments confirms my concerns of racism. I find it so hard to believe that people still use "they are taking our jobs" as a veil for their racist views. Immigrants see opportunity and work to reach their dreams. We would all benefit by learning about and from our new Canadians and stop fearing them.

Out Here
said

It's great to see we're letting more foreigners into the country, Yeah, or none of us would be here! And they aren't taking what are referred to as our jobs. They are taking the jobs those referred to as we, simply refuse to work at. How many of you Toronto boys want to pick cranberries in Richmond BC? How many of you women couldn't get that peach of job, picking produce in Leamington when it's 35 degrees out? It's a good thing the article states which provinces make up western Canada. Geography lesson for the liberals in central Canada.

Big Bob in Ottawa
said

Well you have to add BC Alberta and Saskatchewan together to get the population of Ontario. Say what you will but I don't see the population going up more than a couple more million out there because of infrastructure and societal pressures. Can't build a civilization out of thin air. People will be in Ontario and Quebec for a long time and the oil sands only has about thirty years of oil in it. What happens to those people and their livliehood after? Just asking.

Change of the Times - Ottawa
said

Do not blame people going West from Ontario. This Liberal McGuinty Government with his "energy program" driving business' out of the country ..the business' cannot afford to stay.."Caterpillar" who can blame them for going elsewhere with "cheaper electricity" and they are one of many who will leave this once great Province. Now for the West, if Environmentalists (Like Megan Leslie NDP and Elizabeth May Green Party and the Suzuki's of the World, Americans included, who want to shut down the OIL SANDS from this "HAVE PROVINCE" in Canada where on earth do Canadians think the money is going to come from such as Health Care etc.

Chris
said

The East finally realize how the West was won.

Ken
said

As a born and raised Western Canadian, I would move south before I moved east.

Rosylin
said

Well when Harper raises the the retirement age to 67 which he is planning no one will have to worry about the OAS as you may not even live long enough to get it. He will probably sneak this by without anyone knowing about it. A shame the news is not reporting on that.

BA
said

Hey Pip,

Maybe if it wasn't so expensive for couples to have kids in this country then we wouldn't have to rely on immigration so much. When both spouses have to work full time just to make ends meet it doesn't leave much time to start a family. Unfortunately, too many newcomers to this country being desperate for work will take jobs with salaries that are much lower than they should be, and lower than what their Canadian counterparts would accept. This helps set the salary bar at new lows.

Yes, more foreigners will help support the tax system, although at the same time their parents and grandparents that all live under the same roof with them don't work, and they have never contributed to the system. Meanwhile, they place even more of a drain on our already overburdened health care system.

TomPatty
said

I don't mind Canadians (born and raised here) moving for the jobs...I'm glad that the jobs are for Canadians. Its the immigrants from the middle east and such coming here. Enough is enough! Canadians are being educated in Canada and can't get a job because someone who just moved here, who can't speak english, got the job because its a immigration thing...

I'm tired of it!

Michael from the real world
said

As someone who was legally obliged to fill out the long-form census 3 times in a row [apparently, according to StatsCan, rather an improbability, but there it is] I can say that every successive census had ever-more intrusive questions on it [apparently they can ask whatever the hell they want]. They totally lost me when they started to refuse "Canadian" as an answer to origin. My first ancestors came to the New World in the 17th-century; just how long does one's people have to be here to be "Canadian"? Why should I answer an ethnic-origin question when that information will be used to discriminate against me? As for population: the West will have more political power when we wrest it from the East.

Raj
said

The West is best! there is no denying.We have less Unions, thankfully .We have great things to do. There are jobs! because of less Unionscome West

Disagree !!
said

I don't understand why Canada continues to let immigrants into the country when we don't have enough work for our own home born Canadians... WTF ???

Richard D
said

FedUp SailingAwayFromItSoon: What you are asking for is not equilibrium, it's stagnation. Assume you get what you ask for. We have an economy that neither grows nor shrinks. Now factor in inflation. Changes in demographics. A shift in the education level. Changes in technology. A sudden shortage or surplus of a given commodity. What do you think any of these changes will do to an economy that is "in equilibrium?"

Mike
said

great !!!

jt
said

Steve
First i would not say they have opened the flood gates aslo yes some new canadians to boost the economy but there are some that come that do not as they can't find work then you have some that are canadian but don't live in canada.

cr
said

we need our own immigration laws for Alberta...no more easterners....

Rob Western Canadian
said

Time to move east tired of the crap here. So much for it being a relaxing way of life. Now its nothing but stress, putting up intolerent people, crappy drivers. I guess some of them think they are more important than the rest of us. It was never like this before.

roy
said

At least some people will move to where the jobs are.

Lynn
said

@Tom in Calgary -- Newcomers are treated very, very well here in Calgary... at least all the ones I see! My husband has hired many over the years. If they're educated and willing to work hard, they've got just as much chance as anyone else. We're all descendants of immigrants. My parents came on a boat in the 50's... Calgarians have huge respect for integrity, ability, and effort -- regardless of ethnicity. Anyone can succeed if they try.

Don
said

They are coming here because we all kinds of programs and free money for them to live free while the workers get taxed to death!

Alexis in Victoria
said

To jrayj--Thank you for expressing exactly what I was thinking as I was reading most of these comments! Why is it always the complainers and people who feel such a sense of entitlement from our government who are the only ones ever posting on here! Such negativity and irresponsibility for one's own welfare is very ugly and doesn't belong in our beautiful country! BTW, we all know WEST IS BEST! lol!

Steve O
said

I must agree with the many posters on here it's great that the conservatives have opened the flood gates for immigration, all that new money coming in is keeping our economy moving forward but it has pushed housing prices out of reach for the average Canadian..

Gerhard
said

@Linda. Your post assumes that people who didn't want to fill out the long form were filling it out correctly rather than filling in false information. More information is not better information. There is a group of people who feel that the long form census was a violation of their privacy and some of those were advocating making the information useless rather than have to deal with the government forcing them to fill it out and at least now they can do so honestly rather than in a way that skews the survey.

Brenda
said

Yes, there is a lot of people moving to Alberta.
You sure can tell with the everday travel back and forth to work than there was a few years ago.
The numbers must be correct,I've never seen so much traffic.It use to be relaxing now it's stressful.
As far as the OAS,it should be made Ten years before the immigrants can collect.We Canadians worked hard and longer to collect what is rightful ours,and they come in and never worked or didn't put in 20 years of service to collect what Canadains put in.The seniors are suffering now to get by,with the rising cost,they build this country and now they are suffering because immigrants are taking it away from them.
They didn't ask for them to come,and bleed them dry of their hard earn time in the work force. Give the now seniors a break.

Steve-O
said

This explains the increase in bad drivers on Alberta roads recently. The amount of drivers not signaling, running stop signs and red lights, and talking on their cell phones can only mean they are from the east.

jrayj
said

Canada what an incredible country we all live in, unfortunately we are a country with to dam many bleeding hearts and complainers, I love the vary fact that all the space we do have allows us some peace away from many of these chronic complainers, my opinion is if you don't like it here then simply leave I assure you that you wont be missed. Canada the beautiful Canada a country that no other country can hold seconded fiddle to. Simply a proud Canadian.

Pip
said

Norm: It's great to see were letting more foreigners into the country, as they pay taxes and thus support the pension system. If we simply relied on births from persons already living here, growth would have been only one third of that amount - and be decreasing every year and census period. To maintain a population capable of supporting the pension plan we need a birth rate of at least 2.1 children per family; currently our birth rate is less than that, so we need to have immigrants. Or perhaps you would prefer to have the age of eligibility for OAS raised?

Tom in Calgary
said

I have some concerns on how these newcomers will be treated out here in the West. We are not known for our tolerance of others. I suspect we will see increased racism in the short term, however, I also believe that as the open minded increase in numbers, the racism will diminish. Welcome to all those who wish to call the West home.

Vern from Alberta
said

With the shift to the west, thus giving us a greater population, does that mean the West will have more say in Parliamnet? Probably not. Quebec and Ontario will still call the shots.

Jay
said

Not surprising since Asia is closer to BC.

Steve
said

Great, but even after the proposed the redistribution of seats in the house, Eastern Canada will have 118 Seats, and Western Canada will have 92.

FedUp SailingAwayFromItSoon
said

The model is unsustainable. It just doesn't make sense!Economies are only healthy if they are growing. A growing economy relies on increased consumption. Increased consumption depletes resources, increases pollution, increases demand on energy supplies and will eventually self destruct. What is wrong with achieving an equilibrium? Not growing, not shrinking; maintaining a standard of living acceptable to the existing masses that is sustainable in the long term?

Jeremy in Thunder Bay
said

This is all thanks to McGuinty's failed government. He has destroyed Ontario with the help of the government unions.

Annie Compton
said

So it follows then that the West should be gettingmore seats in Parliament and the East should belosing several, that is the way Democracy works,is it not? Proportional representation? Especiallyas the West is paying more taxes per capita, theyshould be fairly represented in Parliament.

JB in Ontario
said

Go forth and multiply! That is what we should be saying here in Canada. Having a new younger generation will be important in the future of Canada.

Mark J.
said

Basically, the West is growing, and Quebec is aging and shrinking.

Matt in NB
said

It's a Trap!!

Linda In The Valley
said

Well Mr. Primister, this is one action that I totally disagree with . The long form served a purpose with the information collected for many agencies to use other than government. A non-mandatory short form "What is this all about". If I don't feel like filling in the information I don't have to??? Now that just "Great", guess NO ONE will have a handle on anything pertaining to any statistics in this country. This is more than stupid, guess we were offending someone!!!!

Just Saying - Ottawa
said

After 10 years and getting to be 65 or 67 they will "all" be entitled to OAS - keep more coming in and just see if the money will be there down the road. Former Liberal Ruby Dalha only wanted immigrants to wait (3) years to collect OAS now that would be an issue for sure.

Bridget Curran
said

Wow, the Canadian population has grown exponentially in the last five years. Following the Harper government reasoning, we should then start talking about population management and culls to protect food supply, no?

Norm
said

It's great to see were letting more foreigners into the country, it puts more money into the country and greatly reduces the salaries of Canadians.

joe canada
said

I find it amazing that only 33 million live in such a large country. I lived in Germany for a while and such a small country has close to 82 million. We are lucky to have so much open space.

CHAD
said

This is a nothing story!! I wasted my time with it.

Matt
said

That's interesting.....I guess...