It was modest by historical standards, but Alberta gained almost 7,000 residents from other parts of Canada last year, including 2,252 from October to December, says a report released Friday by ATB Financial’s Economics & Research Team.
“Statistics Canada estimates 65,486 people left Alberta for other parts of the country compared to the 72,414 who moved here from another province or territory. The net gain was higher than the 2,184 recorded in 2018 but was not enough to offset the large losses recorded in 2016 and 2017 when Alberta lost a total of 28,239 residents to the rest of Canada,” said ATB in its daily economic update The Owl.
ATB said seven out of the 13 provinces and territories recorded net interprovincial losses last year. Saskatchewan lost the most at -10,828 followed by Manitoba at -9,948. The biggest gainer was British Columbia at +9,551 with Alberta in second spot.
“Alberta’s population ended the year 1.8 per cent larger (+77,378) than at the start. Interprovincial migration accounted for nine per cent of the gain compared to 35 per cent for natural increase (births less deaths) and 56 per cent for international migration,” said the report.
“Alberta’s pace of growth was the third fastest among the provinces with Prince Edward Island in first (+2.0 per cent) and Ontario (+1.9 per cent) in second spot. Canada as a whole grew by 1.6 per cent to reach a population of 37,311,904.”
