Manitoba logs largest annual population growth rate, province says

Manitoba broke its own record last year for population growth, the province announced Wednesday.

From June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2016, the province's population increased by 22,147 people, or 1.71 per cent, said growth, enterprise and trade minister Cliff Cullen in a release.

That's the biggest boost the population has ever seen percentage-wise, according to the release, and the second-highest rate of any province for that year, for a total Manitoba population of 1.3 million.

In the same period, Manitoba welcomed 17,238 immigrants, approximately two-thirds of whom were provincial nominees through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. The program identifies and nominates individuals considered likely to make a positive contribution to the province.

Here's a few other figures for the period from the release:

• 17,238: the number of new immigrants to Manitoba
• 17,372: the number of babies born to Manitoba parents
• 15,451: net migration of inflow of individuals from other jurisdictions

"This record-breaking immigration shows that Manitoba is beginning to move in the right direction, as a destination of choice for newcomers," Cullen said in the release.

"The popularity of our province reflects the many opportunities and job prospects our province offers."