Statistics Canada has released figures that show Saskatchewan's population grew by 11,459 people in 2018.

The growth of over 11,000 people in 2018 is the least amount of growth that the province has seen since 2015 when the province only saw the population grow by 9,500 people. In 2016 the province saw the population grow by 15,707 and in 2017 it grew by 13,484 people.

Everett Hindley, the MLA for Swift Current, said that less growth this year compared to previous years is just the ups and downs you see with population growth.

"There are ups and downs of it all the time," he said. "The figures aren't quite as high as they were in the year previous, but it's still substantial growth. We've shown growth in every single quarter for 51 consecutive quarters of population growth. That's a positive sign."

Hindley added that over the last decade, Saskatchewan has had record growth.

"Saskatchewan has now grown by over 160,000 people since 2007 which is the most growth that we've seen in our province since the 1920s," he said. "That's positive and that's a good thing to see. In addition, newcomers play an important part in that population growth. We've seen newcomers from over 190 counties who have settled in 320 communities in our corners of our province since 2007."

The growth of over 11,000 people brings the total population of Saskatchewan to 1,168,423 something that Hindley remembers was a number some thought would never happen.

"Years ago Saskatchewan's population kind of flirted with that one million mark," he said. "We were below a million for quite a number of years there and it never seemed that we were able to break that ceiling and I remember at the time there were certain experts and politicians that thought it was statistically impossible for Saskatchewan to grow at the national average for population growth."

The province's population growth in 2018 was driven by net international migration of 15,230 people and a natural increase of births minus deaths of 6,138 offset by net interprovincial migrations of 9,882.

Hindley said that the net international migration of over 15,000 people is some of the results of changes to the province's immigrant nominee program.

"More people are moving to our province to fill labour market needs and that's the purpose behind that program," he said. "We've had some refugees come to Saskatchewan and to our community in Swift Current. Specific to Swift Current 2018 figures, the new permanent resident landings are 206 and I believe that's the biggest number that we've seen in the last 10 years or so. That's significant so you know we've got people coming from all areas whether it's other parts of the country, other provinces in Canada, or if they are coming from other countries overseas. I think it's a good mix of population growth that we are seeing in our province."

Hindley said there are many reasons that people from all over would come to Saskatchewan and that the province has more to it than just exporting and trading goods and services between countries.

"There is so much here in terms of opportunity whether it's the lifestyle that you are able to have in a city like Swift Current or any other of our communities," he said. "There's an economic opportunity, there are world-class education institutions in our province and there's world-class tourism in our province. There's a lot here that people that move to Saskatchewan and I think that they have a lot that attracts them here and that's why there are just so many opportunities for them and I think that's what makes it attractive for our province."