Affordability

Affordability issues driving families out of British Columbia

Feb 15, 2023 | 4:34 PM

PRINCE GEORGE- The story of Inflation forcing people to tighten their wallets is all too familiar to those in British Columbia, but now a troubling trend has begun that shows people have had enough of the province.

The third quarter of 2022 was the first time since 2013 the province saw a net loss in inter-Povincial Migration, and the reason why is no secret.

“I think we should all be concerned about the reasons behind the potential exodus of people from our province,” said Shirley Bond, Prince George- Valemount MLA. “one of the things that we’re deeply concerned about is the whole issue of affordability.”

Over the summer of 2022, 19,105 people moved away from BC according to the BC Northern Real estate board, and in that same period, just 14 306 moved to British Columbia for a net loss of just under 5000 people.

Due to inflation and other issues, British Columbia’s consumer Price Index is 6.6 % Higher in 2022 than it was the year before, a main reason for people choosing Alberta and other provinces instead of British Columbia.

The total number of people who moved from B.C. to Alberta in 2022 was just shy of 30,000.