A new study from the Fraser Institute reveals that Alberta has been the most attractive destination for Canadians moving between provinces over the past three decades, while Newfoundland and Labrador has seen the largest relative losses.
Alberta's Net Gain Tops Half a Million
Using Statistics Canada data on interprovincial migration from 1995 to 2024, the report found that Alberta gained a net 538,824 people from other provinces—more than double British Columbia's net gain of 214,883. The province attracted residents from every other province and across all age groups.
Migration patterns fluctuated: Alberta saw strong inflows in the late 1990s and mid-2000s, experienced net losses between 2015 and 2020, and then surged again after 2021.
Economic Factors Drive Movement
Grady Munro, a senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the study, noted that Alberta stands out for its high economic growth, abundant job opportunities, relatively higher wages, and historically lower taxes. While the data does not prove causation, past research points to these factors as key drivers.
Alberta was particularly attractive to young adults aged 18 to 24, attracting a net 192,329 individuals in that age group. Munro highlighted that these are high school graduates, college students, and early-career workers who contribute significantly to economic activity.
Quebec and Ontario Lose Residents
Quebec and Ontario experienced the largest net outflows, losing 255,988 and 168,166 people, respectively. For Ontario, the outflow represents a small share of its population but has been steady for most of the 30-year period. Munro observed that Ontario's economy has stagnated and fallen behind the rest of Canada after decades as the economic powerhouse.
Quebec and Manitoba lost people every single year over the 30-year span.
Relative Losses Hit Smaller Provinces Hardest
When measured as a share of current population, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan each lost a net outflow equivalent to about 10% of their population. In contrast, Quebec's loss equaled about 2.8% of its population, and Ontario's about 1%.
Newfoundland and Labrador saw the sharpest losses among young people: a net 40,480 residents aged 18 to 24 moved away over three decades, equivalent to 97.3% of its current population in that age group. This does not mean almost all young people have left, but that 30 years of steady losses add up to nearly the entire young adult population. New Brunswick was the next hardest hit, losing a net total equal to about one-third of its young population.
