Alberta is once again a lighthouse for all those seeking freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.
According to Statistics Canada, Alberta saw a net gain of approximately 10,000 people in the second quarter of 2022. This makes four consecutive quarters of positive net migration to our province.
Whether it’s affordable homes, low taxes, good jobs, or world-class quality of life – families and businesses from across Canada are choosing to come to our province and participate in the new Alberta Advantage.
The real numbers are very exciting. From January to June 2022, we welcomed 15,208 people from other provinces. Over the past four quarters, we welcomed 23,132 people. But these latest second quarter numbers are the highest provincial migration numbers we’ve seen since the second quarter of 2014 and serve as a strong signal that Alberta is truly back on the right track.
Camrose is no exception. Our community continues to grow, and people recognize Camrose as a great place to settle down. It remains an affordable city with good amenities, which makes it attractive to families wanting to move to an area that can provide them with an excellent quality of life. Contrast this with the grim reality we witnessed under Rachel Notley and the NDP. Back then, Alberta experienced 13 consecutive quarters of negative net migration, all while we lost hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment. When the NDP was in government, people spoke with their feet and left. Today, people are coming back.
Jobs and investment are also pouring back into Alberta, as we lead the nation in economic growth. By cutting taxes and red tape, and by launching initiatives like Alberta Jobs Now and Alberta at Work, our United Conservative government is continuing to do all it can to make Alberta the best place in the world to live, work, play, start a business, and raise a family.
As more jobs are created, however, more skilled workers are needed to fill them, which is why these positive net migration numbers are so welcome. Right now, Alberta is estimated to have more than 100,000 job openings. To help address these labour challenges, our government launched a new advertising campaign called Alberta is Calling to highlight all the benefits of living and working in Alberta as opposed to egregiously expensive cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Clearly, the message is getting through.
More than just a destination for business, Alberta is once again a place where everyday people see hope and opportunity for the future. People are choosing Alberta again, and this is good news for all of us.
For generations, Canadians came to Alberta in search of better lives and better futures. Now, a new generation is following in their footsteps and heading west to participate in the promise of Alberta.
Our entire United Conservative government welcomes these new Albertans and wishes them nothing but success and happiness in our great province, now and for generations to come.