Northern Ontario population growth.(NEWS)

Between 2001 and 2006, there was a total population growth in Canada of 5.4%, and in Ontario of 6.6%. North Bay's overall population increase was 2.3%, Sudbury (1.7%), Sault Ste. Marie (0.8%), and Thunder Bay (0.6%). The exception was Timmins which had a decrease in its total population of 1.7%.

For the most part, an increase in aboriginal population has been the primary contributor to population increases in Northern Ontario. From 2001 to 2006, the growth rate of Ontario's Aboriginal population as a whole was 28.8%, and 20.1% nationally. Over the same time period, Northern Ontario communities experienced a higher growth trend in their Aboriginal population. North Bay's Aboriginal population growth was 46.3%, Sudbury's 35%, Sault Ste. Marie's 28.7%, Thunder Bay's 22.6%, and Timmins' 13.9%.

The Non-Aboriginal population change in Northern Ontario is considerably lower than the national change of 4.9% and the provincialchange of 6.2%. In fact. North Bay is the only Northern Ontario city to record a positive change of 0.4%. The growth rate change for Timmins was -2.8%, Sault Ste. Marie was -1.3%, Thunder Bay was -1.0% and Sudbury was-0.1%.

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