Push for housing action following more record-breaking population growth in Moncton and Halifax
The chambers of commerce in Moncton, N.B., and Halifax say housing development needs to pick up to meet record-breaking population growth.
According to new numbers from Statistics Canada, Metro Moncton’s population as of July 1, 2023, was up six per cent to 178,971 (an increase of 10,351 people from 2022).
Metro Halifax saw a 3.9 per cent increase to its population, adding19,780 people year-to-year. Metro Halifax’s population on July 1, 2023, was 518,711.
Statistics Canada says Metro Moncton experienced the fastest annual population growth of any metropolitan area in the country since at least 2001, tying Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, Ont.
Moncton and Halifax have previously led the country for being amongst the fastest growing urban areas.
In Metro Halifax, the municipality has a goal of doubling its population by 2050.
“I think we need to do some of the things we’re already doing,” says Halifax Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick Sullivan. “We saw in the first three months of this year building permits were up 50 per cent in Halifax. We need to keep doing that, we’re clearly behind on housing.”
The chambers of commerce in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John sent a joint letter to New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs earlier this month, asking for the provincial portion of HST to be eliminated on new building construction, such as what's happening in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Nadine Fullarton, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton, says provincial support for “wrap around infrastructure” also needs to become a priority.
“Everything from health institutions, education facilities, daycares, homes, those things need to happen in tandem so we can retain these individuals and so they remain here over the long term,” says Fullarton.
Maritime census metropolitan areas: July 1, 2022-2023
- Halifax: 518,711 (+19,780)
- Moncton: 178,971 (+10,351)
- Saint John: 138,985 (+3,420)
- Fredericton: 119,059 (+4,543)
Maritime census agglomerations: July 1, 2022-2023
- Charlottetown: 90,648 (+4,160)
- Summerside: 19,795 (+495)
- Kentville: 28,842 (+554)
- Truro: 49,597 (+781)
- New Glasgow: 36,208 (+444)
- Cape Breton: 109,962 (6,867)
- Bathurst: 32,821 (+620)
- Miramichi: 29,411 (+767)
- Edmundston: 23,113 (+449)
- Campbellton: 12,179 (+53)
Source: Statistics Canada
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Smith tells Trudeau Alberta will opt out of federal dental plan
Alberta is opting out of the federal dental plan, the premier told the Canadian government late Tuesday afternoon.
One of Canada's most popular vehicles recalled over transmission issue; 95,000 impacted
One of the country's most popular vehicles is being recalled in Canada due to a transmission issue that may impact tens of thousands of drivers.
WikiLeaks' Assange pleads guilty in deal with U.S. that secures his freedom, ends legal fight
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has pleaded guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with Justice Department prosecutors that secures his liberty and concludes a drawn-out legal saga that raised divisive questions about press freedom and national security.
'We need to regroup,' says Liberal minister and Ontario campaign co-chair in light of byelection loss
A member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet and the party's Ontario co-chair for the next campaign says the Liberals 'need to regroup' after a shocking overnight byelection loss to Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.
Pre-med students can't take MCAT in Quebec because of Bill 96
Areeba Ahmed says she's always dreamed of becoming a surgeon but her road to the operating room has become a complicated one ever since Quebec's French language law came into effect.
Protesters try to topple Queen Victoria statue near pro-Palestinian encampment in Montreal
Montreal police were called to intervene after protesters attempted to tear down the Queen Victoria statue at Victoria Square.
Cup Noodles serves up notoriously poisonous pufferfish
Pufferfish is regarded as a luxury in Japan and a meal featuring the potentially poisonous delicacy can easily cost up to 20,000 yen (US$125) at high-end restaurants.
'Truly a great British Columbian': Former B.C. premier John Horgan has cancer again
Former B.C. premier and current Canadian ambassador to Germany John Horgan has been diagnosed with cancer for a third time.
New experience in Halifax gets people up close and personal to the ocean's most feared predator
Atlantic Shark Expeditions launched a new shark cage experience which gives brave attendees a chance to get up close and personal with the oceans most feared predator.