Steep Declines: Consecutive Quarters

International Migration Dept: While population growth in the second quarter improved slightly from the first, growth trends in the province have been weak. Adjusting for seasonal factors, the annualized population growth edged up to just below one per cent in the second quarter. This was the first time since 2004 that provincial population growth has fallen below one per cent for three consecutive quarters. In recent years, quarterly annualized growth hovered in a range of 1.5 per cent to 1.8 per cent, according to Vancouver Sun. Total net international migration added 8,779 persons in the second quarter, down 29 per cent from the same quarter in 2010 as the number of landed immigrants fell 26 per cent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the quarter-over-quarter flow of landed immigrants increased by 15 per cent, following steep declines in the preceding three quarters, but remained low and comparable to levels seen in the first half of the last decade. This slowdown in international immigration likely reflects ongoing challenges in the global economy and tepid labour markets that have slowed both the demand for and supply of immigrants and according to Statistics Canada, British Columbia's population rose above an estimated 4.57 million people as of July 1, representing a gain of 12,281 individuals 0.27 per cent from April 1. Slower population growth in recent quarters has reflected a sharp decline in the flow of landed international immigrants and an increased outflow of residents to other provinces. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.