Rob Roach, ATB ECONOMICS | June 29, 2023

Canadians continue to pour into Alberta 

Alberta has gained residents from other provinces and territories for the seventh quarter in a row, attracting a total of 68,265 new residents (net in-migrants less out-migrants) since the third quarter of 2021.

During the first three months of 2023, 31,031 people moved to Alberta from another part of Canada while 15,245 did the opposite for a net gain of 15,786 residents.

The quarterly gain represents the sixth highest net inflow into Alberta since at least 1961 when the current data series begins.

The second highest gain was recorded just last year in the third quarter. (The record was set at 20,706 in the third quarter of 1980.)

Only three other provinces gained residents from interprovincial migration in the first quarter: Nova Scotia (+2,690), New Brunswick (+1980), and Prince Edward Island (+790).

Ontario posted the largest net outflow (-14,732) and was the largest source of migrants into Alberta at about of the net inflow.

What’s making Alberta such an attractive place to either stay or move to at the moment?

There are many factors in play, but the recent spikes in net gains are likely driven by two main things: 1) relatively strong economic conditions; and 2) less expensive home prices than in places like Toronto and Vancouver.

Answer to the previous trivia question: Jean-Baptiste Say (1767-1832, Paris) is a French economist known for his law of markets (a.k.a. Say’s law), often (though some say erroneously) summarized as “supply creates its own demand.”

Today’s trivia question: When did the London School of Economics and Political Science start operating?