Census photo courtesy Statistics Canada, Facebook.
This is the first of a multi-part series looking into the census population number breakdown in Saskatchewan’s northern municipalities and Indian Reserves.
The Census says northern Saskatchewan’s 24 towns and villages saw a population decrease of seven per cent between 2011 and 2016.
According to the numbers, La Loche’s population dropped by 240 people to a total of 9.2 per cent. This will lead to a potential annual loss of tens of thousands of dollars from a number of federal grants that are based on a per capita formula. The loss of northern revenue sharing funds is particularly concerning to Mayor Robert St. Pierre.
“That’s how we get our funding right? So that affects everything, especially when we’re taking a decrease after the premier’s announcement (about provincial cost-cutting). That’s a lot of money when you’re running a community of this size,” he said.
The census numbers will have a lesser impact on a number of northern communities that have much smaller populations, according to New North lobbying group’s CEO Matt Heley. He said when it comes to per capita funding like the federal gas tax grant, many small municipalities “don’t really go after that kind of money anyway because it’s not really worth it.”
Communities like the hamlet of Weyakwin show a small total population loss of about 86 people between 2011 and 2016. While that may not seem significant in larger communities, it totals a 63 per cent population loss.
Pelican Narrows saw a drastic loss as well, with a census population loss of 20.3 per cent from 790 people in 2011 to 630 in 2016.
Cumberland House is in the same boat, with the census saying the population dropped 19.3 per cent from 831 residents in 2011 to 671 in 2016.
Cumberland House Mayor Kelvin McKay echoed St. Pierre’s sentiment, saying “when we get funded through the municipality when the number is low, your budget is going to get cut.”
The census’s population changes are no small matter for places like Sandy Bay, which saw a census population decrease of 15.4 per cent, down to 697 from 824.
“Budgetwise it’s very worrisome,” said Mayor Paul Morin.
Beauval is down 15.3 per cent, and Creighton is down 6.4 per cent. The census says Ile-a-la-Crosse lost 69 residents between 2011 and 2016, with a current population of 5.1 per cent.
Populations also dropped in northern settlements and unorganized areas.
The numbers aren’t all negative though. Pinehouse saw its population jump by 7.6 per cent.
Air Ronge and Stony Rapids also saw population increases between 2011 and 2016. Air Ronge registered a six per cent increase and Stony Rapids 7.8 per cent.