麻豆视频

When the economic slowdown started to grip the oil and gas sector and other industries three years ago, one of the obvious questions was how would it impact the province鈥檚 population.

We knew it would be detrimental for the economy, and for the province as a whole. Saskatchewan had leaned heavily on the oil and gas sector during the glory years from 2006 to 2014. Hospitals, schools and highways were constructed, and funding for many programs was increased.

The most recent provincial budget reflected the impact of reduced royalty revenues from the oil and gas sector, as well as potash, with higher taxes, reduced spending, job cuts and the demise of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.

Even though the province鈥檚 revenues haven鈥檛 been growing, the population is still on an upward trend. While the population growth hasn鈥檛 been as great as what it was five years ago, there are still thousands of additional people coming to this province.

The most recent estimates from Statistics Canada show that this province鈥檚 population grew by 4,376 people in the second quarter of the year. For the 12-month stretch from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, this province grew by 15,337 people.

You could forgive people for wondering whether the population growth would continue after the price of oil and other commodities plunged. After all, oil played a key role in Saskatchewan鈥檚 population spike. Would people still follow the opportunity to Saskatchewan?

The answer has been yes. Not to the same degree as before, but an increase in more than 4,000 people is still an encouraging sign.

Moderate population growth is always a good thing. It鈥檚 a sign of confidence from the general public regarding the state of the province. It鈥檚 a sign of opportunity in a variety of sectors for young people. It鈥檚 a sign that newcomers want to be here, and that they aren鈥檛 just looking at the three larger provinces.

It means more people are purchasing goods, which drives up revenues from the provincial sales tax.

There are challenges associated with growth, but it鈥檚 better to have to face those challenges than issues associated with status quo on the population front, or even worse, a declining population.

For those who are relatively new to Saskatchewan, or for those with short memories, it might be hard for them to believe that this province didn鈥檛 always have a growing population. For many years, it was stagnant or declining.

At one point in the 1940s, Saskatchewan was the most populous province in Western Canada. Now it is fourth.

When people suggested that this province could grow, they were often subjected to ridicule.

This province has been consistently growing for over a decade.

The only ones who should be ridiculed are those who had a lack of vision, and said population growth couldn鈥檛 be done.聽