B.C. a top pick for Canadians looking to relocate: poll
For Canadians thinking about leaving their province, B.C. appears to be a top destination, according to a recent poll.
Results of a Research Co. survey were released Wednesday, revealing the western province is a "top-of-mind destination" for residents of four other provinces.
"British Columbia is in first place as a possible relocation destination in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario," Research Co. president Mario Canseco said in a statement. "Quebecers prefer Ontario and British Columbians put Alberta on top."
The strong preference for B.C. comes even as a third of its residents are seriously considering leaving the province in search of more affordable housing, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll released earlier this month.
That survey found that half of 18- to 34-year-olds and more than two-in-five 35- to 54-year-olds say they are seriously thinking of leaving the province because of the cost of housing.
Vancouver, Burnaby, Victoria, and Kelowna all rank among the 12 most expensive cities to rent in Canada, while purchase prices follow a similar trend, according to the Angus Reid Institute.
For British Columbians, Alberta was the highest picked alternative, according to Research Co.'s survey. Twenty-four per cent of respondents chose the neighbouring province, with 19 per cent picking Ontario. Nearly a third of B.C. respondents said they weren't sure, however.
Results are based on online surveys conducted from March 29 to March 31, 2024, among 800 adults in British Columbia and 600 adults in each of the other participating provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region for each province. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for British Columbia and plus or minus four percentage points for the remaining provinces, 19 times out of 20.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kraig Krause
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Frozen waffles recalled across Canada, U.S. over Listeria concerns
A U.S.-based food manufacturer that supplies frozen waffles to major grocery chains across North America has launched a voluntary recall over concerns its products carry the potential for illness.
'You are not my king,' Indigenous Australian senator yells at visiting King Charles
An Indigenous senator told King Charles III that Australia is not his land as the royal visited Australia's parliament on Monday.
How an off-duty lifeguard found a missing 17-year-old in the ocean
It was a typical Wednesday evening for Noland Keaulana, who was fixing his truck at his grandparents’ house when he received an alert on his phone about a 17-year-old missing off the Honolulu coast.
Cubans struggle with an extended power outage and a new tropical storm
Cuba's widespread blackouts stretched into their fourth day as Hurricane Oscar crossed the island's eastern coast with winds and heavy rain.
Woman found dead after Coquitlam, B.C., mudslide: RCMP
A woman has been found dead in the aftermath of an atmospheric river that caused flooding and a mudslide in the Metro Vancouver city of Coquitlam over the weekend.
High grocery and rental costs plaguing Canadians, new survey finds
High grocery and rental costs are squeezing lower-income Canadians even as inflation trends downward, a new survey suggests.
'I regret leaving my cat there': Eastern Ontario cat rescue under investigation, allegations of abuse, neglect
A cat rescue southwest of Ottawa is under investigation after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records have surface.
Canadian detained in Sudan begins trial after suing federal government 15 years ago
After waiting 15 years, Canadian Abousfian Abdelrazik will finally get the chance to hold the federal government accountable for its alleged complicity which led to his imprisonment and torture in Sudan.
Search underway for hiker missing in northern B.C.
Mounties say a search is underway for an avid outdoorsman who has disappeared in the wilderness of northern British Columba.