Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf (left) and Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips (right) are reacting to Alberta's high population growth. (Photo: LNN / Alberta NDP)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge MLAs on the impacts of Alberta’s large population growth

Apr 1, 2024 | 12:08 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge’s provincial politicians are reflecting on what Alberta’s record population growth could mean going forward.

Statistics Canada reported last week that the Alberta population grew by 202,324 people in 2023, the largest single-year increase since it started tracking those figures in 1972.

That not only included 130,870 international immigrants, but it was also the most substantial period of interprovincial migration in the country’s history as 55,107 Canadians moved to Alberta.

READ MORE: Alberta records largest population growth since StatCan tracking started in 1972

Both Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf and Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips agreed that this is a net positive.

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Neudorf touted the economic benefits that come with high population growth.

“It is, overall, very positive for the province as we continue to strengthen our workforce, we continue to strengthen our population and economy, and we continue to see individuals coming to those much-needed sectors where we’re looking for workers to fill those gaps,” says Neudorf.

Phillips, while also talking about the good things immigration will do for the economy, added that there are many positive cultural aspects as well.

“It’s always good when immigrants bring their diversity and their strengths in our economy and at our university and college as well, as people want to start their families and start their lives in the city of Lethbridge,” says Phillips. “We have a tremendous community and there’s a lot of optimism that comes with newcomers when they come and they start businesses and start families.”

However, the MLAs spoke at length about the “growing pains” that Alberta is likely to experience.

In a province that had already struggled to attract and retain enough healthcare workers, Phillips says she is worried about being able to sufficiently increase capacity in the health system.

“It would seem to me that there are two looming challenges – one is a physician shortage and a lack of seriousness on the part of the government for attraction and retention,” explains Phillips. “We know we have a coming shortage of anesthesiologists in the Lethbridge hospital, which we know is going to back up surgeries and even have an effect on the ability to do emergency C-sections and maternity care.”

Neudorf replied that this is exactly why the United Conservative Party (UCP) has increased healthcare spending. The goal, he says, is to not only bring more doctors into Alberta from other jurisdictions, but to train more here.

He teased a “major announcement” regarding health care in Lethbridge but gave no specifics as to what that might be.

READ MORE: U of L receives $43 million to create Rural Medical Teaching School

The UCP MLA adds that the anticipation of a wave of new residents is also what prompted them to spend more money on education and housing.

This year’s budget includes design funding for a modernization project at Galbraith Elementary School while the government included money to build a new K-6 school for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division in 2023.

When it comes to housing, Neudorf says, “our ministry of seniors, community, and social services has invested record numbers of dollars, in the hundreds of millions of dollars, to make sure that we have the most houses built in this province’s history.”

READ MORE: Lethbridge’s Galbraith Elementary School approved for design funding

READ MORE: Province funding construction of new west Lethbridge elementary school

Phillips, on the other hand, says she is not sure if the school initiatives will be enough and expressed concern that the province is not doing enough to hire teachers and educational assistants.

She has previously told LNN that Albertans have come to understand inflation and the impacts it has, but that “there is only one person in this province that doesn’t understand inflation and that’s [Premier] Danielle Smith.”

Neudorf, however, highlighted the importance of being responsible with how the government manages spending.

“It is very important for future generations and all Albertans that they know their taxes are not going up. We are managing as carefully as we can, we’re investing prudently, and we’re continuing to pay down debt and invest in our Heritage Savings Trust Fund for future generations. We’re trying to do the prudent thing, the responsible thing, both today and into the future and manage that growth,” explains Neudorf.

Statistics Canada did not provide a breakdown for how much specific communities have grown in their populations.

Phillips and Neudorf both recounted their anecdotal experiences of meeting several people over the last year who were new to the city. Neudorf believes Lethbridge has continued to see similar levels of stable and consistent growth that it is used to, and not like how some other communities have large “boom and bust” cycles.

As of the City of Lethbridge’s 2023 municipal census, the city’s population grew by 1.25 per cent over the prior year to 106,550.

READ MORE: ‘Responsible plan for a growing province’: Alberta reveals balanced budget, boosting health care and education funding

READ MORE: Alberta budget doesn’t keep up with inflation, population growth: Phillips

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