Immigration Minister Sarah Stoodley blames N.L. population decline on federal government

Newfoundland and Labrador's population dropped for the first time in 15 quarters in 2024 despite its record-high immigration numbers.

Statistics Canada reports that as of Jan. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador's population had decreased by 0.1 per cent, a loss of 301 people. The province's population currently stands at 545,579, compared to 545,880 on Oct. 1, 2024. 

Immigration and Population Growth Minister Sarah Stoodley said Canada's changing immigration policies are the primary reason for the decline, despite 5,808 new immigrants moving into the province in 2024.

"I think the confidence level of immigrating to Canada is changing," Stoodley said. 

In January, the federal government attempted to slash Newfoundland and Labrador's economic immigration allocations in half.

The province was allocated 2,100 spaces under the Provincial Nominee Program and 950 spots under the Atlantic Immigration Program, totalling 3,050 economic immigration spaces. 

Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller told Stoodley they would cut that number, leaving the province with 1,525 spaces.

"I'm just gobsmacked, and my team are devastated," Stoodley told Radio-Canada in January. 

Days later, the federal government partially reversed the decision. Miller offered to increase the number of newcomer spots with an additional 1,000 spaces, for a total of 2,525 newcomers per year — a number that still falls short of the previous 3,050 spaces.

"We're not whole, but 83 per cent is certainly better than 50 per cent. So we are very pleased with this. I think this is the best we can do," Stoodley told reporters on Jan. 31.

Canada is cutting the projected number of new permanent residents the country takes in, from 485,000 this year to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Stoodley says immigrants are necessary for the province's long-term economic sustainability.

"Our economic prosperity relies on economic immigration," Stoodley said in January. "We need teachers, we need early childhood educators, we need residential construction workers. We don't have enough of them here. We need to go elsewhere looking for them, and we need them [for] the future of our province."

With Prime Minister Mark Carney expected to call a federal election on Sunday, Stoodley said she looks forward to working with Canada's next immigration minister.