B.C. and Alberta recorded the largest proportional increases in its population in the first quarter, according to Statistics Canada data released Tuesday.
B.C.'s population rose 0.35% to 4.43 million in April from 4.41 million in January. That was second to Alberta's 0.59% increase to 3.65 million from 3.63 million.
The increases contributed to one of the fastest first-quarter growth rates in Canada since 2001, as the country's population rose by 88,006.
Much of the increase came from the rise in the number of non-permanent residents. Net non-permanent residents jumped to 23,845 from 15,550. Non-permanent residents generally have student or temporary work visas and include refugee claimants and their families.
B.C.'s population growth was due primarily to net increases in international migration; Alberta's growth came from net inter-provincial migration from across the country.