Province exceeds its population goal
Creating jobs for Islanders -
Prince Edward Island has more than 150,000 residents for the first time in its history, meeting government’s population target for 2017.
In a new national report, Statistics Canada estimates the province’s population to be 152,021 as of July 2017, an increase of 1.7 percent over July 1, 2016. The provincial government’s efforts to grow the population are also aimed at expanding the economy by creating jobs for new and returning Islanders.
“PEI’s population growth rate exceeds the rate of growth for Canada, and our median age is getting younger which shows progress in reversing the trend of an aging population,” said Premier Wade MacLauchlan. “We are well on our way to building a resilient, diverse population of 160,000 people by the end of 2022 as laid out in our Population Action Plan.”
Prince Edward Island's population growth significantly exceeds that of Canada’s growth at 1.2 percent. It also leads the Atlantic region again, which has been the case for six of the past seven years. In addition, the last time the Island’s median population age decreased was in 1967.
Prince Edward Island is experiencing tremendous growth – leading the region and the country in many key economic indicators. Prince Edward Island leads Atlantic Canada in consumer confidence and confidence in the strategic direction of the province.
In the latest Corporate Research Associates quarterly report, 67 per cent of Islanders agree the province is heading in the right strategic direction and consumer confidence continues to grow.
Government’s Population Action Plan lays out a path focusing on recruiting, retaining, and repatriating, with an emphasis on growing the Island’s rural population. The plan includes initiatives to ready the working-age population for job possibilities that will lead to continued economic growth and to create opportunities to repatriate skilled workers and entrepreneurs.
“By working together with federal and municipal partners, private businesses, community organizations, and local leaders, we are seeing success in our collective efforts to expand the opportunities for all Islanders,” said Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant. “As we work through the action items in our population plan, Prince Edward Island’s population will continue to grow, as will our economic prospects for the future.”
The Population Action Plan is available at www.mighty-princeedwardisland.com/recruit-retain-repatriate.
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