Calgary, Alberta growth expected to more than double in size

S outhern Alberta's population will increase by about two million people over the next 66 years, with most of that growth centred around Calgary, says a new provincial planning document.

Even before the population swells to that level, the Alberta government says it wants to improve water conservation, efficiency and productivity by 30 per cent in the next six years.

The detailed strategies for meeting these and other targets will be addressed in public meetings regarding the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. The meetings begin today.

The purpose of the meetings is to discuss regional plans that attempt to balance population and economic growth with land conservation and the protection of water sources.

A government report setting out the terms of reference for the regional plan states that "significant growth is anticipated in the Calgary Metropolitan Region over the next 60 to 70 years. It is expected to add 1.6 million residents by 2076."