Manitoba population growth best in 40 years

Manitoba's population continues to swell, posting the best growth rate in 40 years.

Statistics Canada figures show, as of Jan. 1, 2011,the populationwas1,243,700, which represents a growth of 100,035 people since the fall of 1999.

Previously, it took Manitoba nearly 18 years to add more than 100,000 residents, stated a press release from Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Peter Bjornson.

There was a net increase of 16,900 people over just thepast 12 months, the province's best population growth in nearly 40 years.

A net increase is the difference between the number of people who left and those that arrived.

Of those who came to Manitoba,a total of 15,805 were international immigrants, a numberwell ahead of the 13,520 immigrantsthatarrived in 2009 and the largest immigrant arrival since 1946.

There was a late-year surge of 3,600 people who came between October and December, giving Manitobathe quickest growth rate in Canada during the fourth quarter of 2010.

But2010 was also a banner year for births with 16,143 newborns arriving.Not since 1994 have there been so manyin a 12-month period, said Bjornson.