New Brunswick’s population is becoming more urban and more suburban and that is causing one advocate to urge the province to shift its focus to strengthening cities.

New Brunswick’s population grew by 2.9 per cent between 2006 and 2011, pushing the population to 751,171, according to the latest data released from Statistics Canada on Wednesday.

Several communities in southern New Brunswick recorded populations that are expanding at double-digit growth rates.

Dieppe’s population jumped by 25.6 per cent, Quispamsis’s population grew by 17.4 per cent and Fredericton’s population surged by 11.3 per cent.

Even some larger southern cities that had experienced growth problems in the past found glimmers of hope in the recent census data. Saint John reversed a decades-long trend and saw its population grow by three per cent.

Bob McVicar, a long-time advocate for urban Saint John, said it's time for the provincial government to focus less on policies to help rural areas because delivery of services is less expensive in cities and towns.

"We need to focus on where our opportunities are, and those best opportunities, for that kind of sustainability, rest in urban areas, not rural areas,” he said.

'The cost of delivering services in urban areas, whether they're municipal services or health care or education, are most efficiently delivered in urban areas.'— Bob McVicar

McVicar said it no longer makes sense for the provincial government to try to deliver equal services everywhere in the province.

“The cost of delivering services in urban areas, whether they're municipal services or health care or education, are most efficiently delivered in urban areas, and I think there has to be a realization around that,” McVicar said.

McVicar’s ideas are destined to cause controversy, especially among the province's politicians.

Even a Liberal MLA, who is representing the province's fastest-growing city, will not fully endorse the urban advocate’s policy prescription.

Dieppe Centre-Lewsville MLA Roger Melanson said the provincial government still has a role to play in helping rural communities.

"The government shouldn't have policies that precipitate or encourage people to move into cities, because rural New Brunswick is still a nice place to be,” Melanson said.

Melanson said rural areas still have a right to the same government services as cities even though more New Brunswickers themselves are opting for urban living.