People Moving Back to Saskatchewan

Statistics Canada says people who left Saskatchewan for Alberta may be starting to come home. The third-quarter preliminary population numbers show Saskatchewan received roughly 3,700 migrants from Alberta between July and September of this year. That's compared to 2,400 during the same time period in 2005.

Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline says young people had been leaving because of a lack of jobs. But he says more employment opportunities and affordable real estate are starting to attract people to the province. He says such things can be important, especially to young families.

"They often say it would be good to be in Saskatchewan because of the better cost of living plus the ease of getting to work and back," said Cline.

The report also notes that Saskatchewan's population increased by 473 people to 985,859. It is the biggest population increase since 1995, which the report states is largely due to the decline in net losses to Alberta.

Cline pointed out that while the province did lose roughly 4,700 people to Alberta, Saskatchewan was among eight provinces that saw residents move to the oil-rich province.