Metro Winnipeg population effectively flatlined in 2021, StatsCan data shows

Winnipegbarely added any peoplelast year, as the pandemic accelerated apopulation slowdown that began three years before the emergence of COVID-19.

Population estimates published by Statistics Canada last week show the Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area the city and 12 neighbouring municipalities grew by only 1,567 people, or 0.2 per cent between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021.

The Winnipeg metro area's population was estimated at852,778 on Canada Day. The population of thecity itself was pegged at 757,854. That represented a tiny decline of 354 people over the previous year.

While a number of other metro areas,including Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver,alsolost people last year, Winnipeg's slowdown startedbefore the pandemic.

The growth rate in the Winnipeg CMA has been sliding since 2016-17, when the region experienced robustannual growth of two per cent.

"I'm at a loss to name a single reasonfor this," said Jared Wesley, a University of Alberta political scientist who left Winnipeg for Edmonton in 2011.

"I don't see aa common event or a policy or anything that led to this directly.It just seems like more peopleare wanting to leave Winnipeg."

StatsCan data bearsout Wesley's hunch. During the 12 months ending on July 1, theWinnipeg area experienced a net loss of 7,466 peopleto other provinces.

That was enough to almostcancel out international immigration to Winnipeg, as well as births and people moving to the cityfrom elsewhere in Manitoba.

"The flow of international in-migration largelyhas been offset by domestic outmigration," saidUniversity of Winnipeg economist Philippe Cyrenne."What is interesting is that it is relative employment opportunities that matter."

People who left the Winnipeg area last year for other provinces say jobs were the main draw.

StatsCan data shows Winnipeg population flatlined in 2021

3 years ago

Duration 1:55

Winnipeg barely added any people last year, as the pandemic accelerated a population slowdown that began three years before the emergence of COVID-19.

Christine Leemoved to Calgary last May when her partnergot the chance to earn more money working on luxury cars, which are more numerous in Alberta.

"There's just more opportunity for growth, income and just life," said Lee, who added Calgary has roughly the same cost of living thatWinnipeg does but withless social disparity.

"They need to help theircitizens. I mean, you drive down Portage Avenuelast winter andevery single bus shelter had someone living in it."

Lauren Konrad, who left Winnipeg last yearfor a fundraising job at a Vancouver private school, said she did not have the same opportunities for career advancement in Winnipeg.

"I was finding it difficult to find that next step in Winnipeg," said Konrad, adding she also simply wanted a change.

"I was happy to take another position with a different school, and also have the opportunity to explore another province in the middle of a pandemic, where we're not travelling."

Konrad had spent most of her life in Winnipeg. Lee had lived in Manitoba her entire life.

Cyrenne said more recent arrivals may also be lured away.

"Winnipegmight have been their initial stop, but more attractive cities may be considered," he said."Family reunification would result in moreimmigrants staying. Economic-class immigrants are more mobile."

The province sees the slow growth in its largest economic centre as a drag on the economy.

"With a low unemployment rate, there is little excess capacity in the labour force at this time," Manitoba Finance said in a statement. "Also, without population growth, as the population ages, there areless working-age Manitobans."

City of Winnipeg officials blamed the stagnationon the pandemic, sidestepping the fact Winnipeg's population growth began slowing in 2016-17.

"While it's too early to predict when it might occur, we do expect that population growth trends in Winnipeg will return to pre-pandemic levels," city economist Tyler Markowskysaid in a statement.

Mayor Brian Bowman's office insisted the city is still growing and said in a statement the metropolitan area will eventually reach a million people.

Wesley said in order for Winnipeg to grow, the city has to become more attractive to people who don't want long commutes between their homes and workplaces.

"If I'mthe mayor of Winnipeg, I would start to think about what would make Winnipeg a liveable city, a place where people want to want to come," Wesley said.

Winnipeg will get a more precise picture of its population soon. The results of Statistics Canada's 2021 census are slated to be released on Feb. 9.