B.C. was the only province in Canada where the population declined between April and June, while the province’s birthrate remains the lowest in the country, according to new Statistics Canada data that shows the impact of changing federal immigration policy on B.C.’s population.

The drop is “the other side” of the surge in the number of temporary residents who came to B.C. over the last three years, said Werner Antweiler, a business professor at the University of B.C. Many of those people are now leaving as their work and study permits expire.

“This year is abnormal,” he said, adding that while the decline is striking after years of population growth, it’s not unexpected.

B.C.’s population should stabilize again next year, with immigration historically contributing to modest population

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