Population grows in N.B. according to census results

The latest census results show North Battlefords population grew by a modest amount in the last five years.

According the 2016 census which came out today, Feb. 8, the city saw a growth of 3.1 per cent to a new total population of 14,315. City Manager Jim Puffalt, said the growth is much higher than usual as the city has averaged just over one per cent in previous censuses.

“This is absolutely a positive thing,” Puffalt said. “There were years where there was no population growth, I think. Historically our growth rate was 1.2 per cent so this is a pretty good growth rate for us.”

Though the growth is positive Puffalt was somewhat relieved the city didn’t hit 15,000. Had the city reached that number it would have to pay 90 per cent of the RCMP costs opposed to the 70 per cent North Battleford has in its budget.