For the third straight quarter, Canada’s population has fallen. According to data released last week by Statistics Canada, the nation’s population dropped by 55,025 people between Jan. 1 and April 1 of this year. That followed a decline of more than 103,000 people in the final three months of 2025. As of April 1, Canada’s total population was estimated by StatCan to be 41,417,056, including citizens, permanent and temporary residents, which is approximately 200,000 fewer than a year ago.

How has this happened? StatCan points to three key factors. First, there was a “natural decrease” in the population, as 155 more people died during the first quarter than were born during that time frame. That reflects both a lower birth rate and aging population, and is a significant change from the first quarter of 2025, when there was a net “natural increase” of 983 people.

Second, the federal government’s lower immigration targets appear to be having an impact. The nation welcomed 83,149 permanent immigrants in the first quarter of 2026. That’s a 20.2 per cent lower than the same period last year, when the number of new permanent residents was pegged at 104,210.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the number of non-permanent residents (including foreign workers and students) plunged by 117,879 people in the first quarter of 2026, marking the third consecutive quarter in which the population of that group has declined. As of April 1, the total number of temporary residents in Canada was estimated to be 2.56 million people, or 6.1 per cent of the nation’s total population. That’s moving toward the new federal immigration targets, which include a goal of reducing the number of temporary residents to not more than five per cent of the total population.

Manitoba’s justice system has struggled for decades with the reality that Indigenous people are dramatically overrepresented in our courts and in our penitentiaries.

It’s a chronic problem within our judicial system that has been as much lamented as it has remained unresolved. And the situation should concern all of us.

Despite countless reports, inquiries, recommendations and promises of reform, the numbers remain stubbornly high and, in some cases, continue to worsen.

That is why last week’s appointment of Judge Jerilee Ryle, who is Anishinaabe from Lake St. Martin First Nation, as Manitoba’s first associate chief judge of reconciliation is an important and welcome development.

The Brandon Chamber of Commerce, originally known as the Brandon Board of Trade, has existed since 1983. The Brandon Sun was a founding member then and, more than a century later, continues to be a member today.

Given that longstanding relationship, we welcome the appointment of IntriTech Digital Marketing CEO Emilio Brown as the chamber’s new president. He replaces outgoing president Jennifer Ludwig, who will remain as the president of Super Thrifty Drugs Canada.

Brown’s appointment is a positive reflection of the growing diversity and inclusiveness of Brandon’s business community, and of our city generally. He emigrated from Jamaica to Canada in 2014, founded his company in 2017 and serves as co-chair of the Westman Jamaican Community.

That background lends extra credibility to his commitment to foster an inclusive business community, which is reflected in his view that “When we bring more perspectives to the table, we make better decisions, we uncover opportunities that we may otherwise miss, we strengthen our collaboration, we build solutions that better reflect the realities that we are facing here in Brandon.”