The Greater Moncton region had a 5.1 per cent population increase from July 2023 to 2024, according to Statistics Canada.

The population rose from 178,599 to 188,036 and was largely driven by immigration.

Statistics Canada reported that it’s the second-highest increase among all metro areas in Canada.

Mayor Dawn Arnold expressed her excitement about the growth.

“It’s a very exciting time in our city right now. This kind of immigration is crucial to the sustainability of our community,” she said.

Arnold also acknowledged the challenges with the rapid growth, such as traffic congestion and the need for more community gathering spaces.

Despite these challenges, Arnold highlighted the benefits of the population increase, including innovation, new businesses, and cultural celebrations.

“Newcomers bring a lot to our community, from new ideas to volunteerism,” Arnold said.

The mayor also noted the positive impact on public transit, with ridership growing by 32 per cent in 2024.

“Many newcomers come from large centres where public transit is the norm, and this has been beneficial for our system,” she said.

Looking ahead, Arnold talked about their focus on the need for continued growth and development in areas such as housing and recreational infrastructures.