New statistics show that Alberta has overtaken British Columbia in terms of welcoming new immigrants.

For the first time, Alberta has welcomed more newcomers than B.C., according to the latest data from the Canada West Foundation.

Statistics show that since approximately 2005, while growth in B.C. has stagnated, migration to Alberta as well as to the other prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan has boomed. In Saskatchewan alone, immigration has increased by 570 percent in the past ten years. Alberta and Manitoba grew 144 and 188 percent, respectively. During that same time period, immigration to B.C. increased by a mere 6.4 percent.

Experts point to several factors in explaining this trend, including a limited number of provincial nominees each year, the recent cancellation of the Immigrant Investor Program, as well as B.C.’s relatively stagnant economic growth in recent years.

In addition, wages in the province have not kept pace with inflation, while cost of living generally, and house prices in particular, have skyrocketed in recent years. All of these factors have countered many of B.C.’s positive traits, including scenery, lifestyle and proximity to Asia.

Newcomers are not the only ones foregoing the beautiful scenery and temperate climate of British Columbia – 8,567 residents relocated to other provinces in 2012.

Overall, Ontario and Quebec still attract the most immigrants each year, welcoming 40 and 21 percent of newcomers in 2013, respectively.

Source: Ottawa Citizen