Statistics Canada 2006 Census

Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006: Population of the provinces and territories
Alberta: the engine of population growth in the Prairie provinces
Close to 95% of the Prairie provinces' population growth between 2001 and 2006 took place in Alberta, which was the fastest-growing Canadian province during the period. Manitoba accounted for the rest of the growth, as Saskatchewan's population shrank between 2001 and 2006.
The number of Albertans increased by 10.6% between 2001 and 2006, double the national growth rate (+5.4%). Alberta's growth rate was similar to the rate for the 1996 to 2001 period (+10.3%). If the province continues to grow by 10% every five years in the future, its population will likely double between 2006 and the mid-2030s.
During the 2001 to 2006 period, Alberta's population passed the 3 million mark and 3,290,350 persons were enumerated on May 16, 2006. During the same period, Alberta's share of Canada's total population topped 10% for the first time.
While gains through migration exchanges with the rest of the country are still the main factor in Alberta's population growth, international immigration has been contributing increasing numbers of people over the last few years. Alberta is also the only Canadian province whose natural increase did not decline between 2001 and 2006. Alberta's booming economy, bolstered in particular by the strength of the oil industry, has clearly played a role in the province's rapid population growth.
Between 2001 and 2006, Manitoba's population (1,148,401 persons in 2006) increased at a faster pace (+2.6%) than during the previous intercensal period (+0.5%). This marks a return to a growth rate similar to the levels recorded between 1981 and 1996. The increase in population growth is attributable to higher international immigration in recent years.
In Saskatchewan, the population was 968,157 in 2006, down 10,776 from 2001. However, the rate of decline remained unchanged relative to the 1996 to 2001 period, at -1.1%. This is the second time in 50 years that Saskatchewan's population decreased in two consecutive intercensal periods; the first time was between 1966 and 1976.
Significant losses in migration exchanges with other provinces, especially neighbouring Alberta, accounted for much of the decline, which occurred despite the fact that Saskatchewan had higher fertility than any other province (an average of 1.9 children per woman since 2001). Saskatchewan's net migration losses to Alberta averaged more than 10,000 people a year between 2001 and 2006.
The total population of the three Prairie provinces in the 2006 Census was 5,406,908, which is 333,585 more than in 2001. The Prairie provinces' share of the country's total population increased slightly in the last five years, from 16.9% to 17.1%.

Alberta population booming
calgary.ctv.ca
cba
POSTED AT 11:08 AM Tuesday, March 13
Canada is leading the way among industrialized nations when it comes to population growth, thanks in large part to Alberta.
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Every major municipality in the province is exceeding the Canadian growth average which stands at 5.4 per cent.
In the five years since the last census, Calgary and Edmonton have become home to the most new Albertans.
Calgary has grown by 109 thousand people, while Edmonton has added another 64 thousand to its population.
Some people working in our city say they have seen this type of boom before and are worried about how it will end.
"It's growing quicker than we can keep up with it," says Larry Guy, a contruction worker in the city.
Mayor Dave Bronconnier says the figures back up his fight to get more provincial and federal funding for the city.
"It says that it's a need to reinvest in your high growth communities," says Bronconnier. "If you treated it like a business, your number one customer would be your first priority, not your last."
Premier Ed Stelmach says the statistics show Alberta is a critical part of the nation's economy.
For more information, and the full list of growing communities in Alberta, click on the web link above.