Record-Breaking Exodus - 70,000 Leave B.C.

British Columbia is in the midst of a growing crisis — not just in affordability or housing, but in hope. A staggering 70,000 people have left B.C. in the past year, a record-breaking exodus that surpasses previous highs set in 1998 and 1975. And the most troubling part? These are not retirees seeking sunshine — they are mostly young people under 40 who are giving up on building a future in this province.

A Province People Are Choosing to Leave

For decades, B.C. has been a destination. But that trend is reversing. According to new data from the Business Council of British Columbia:

• Nearly 70,000 residents left the province in the last reporting year — the highest outflow ever recorded.

• Only 55,000 people moved to B.C. from other provinces, far below the long-term average of 62,000.

• That means B.C. is now facing net interprovincial out-migration — losing more people to other provinces than it gains.

This isn’t just a blip. It reflects a deeper, more serious trend: British Columbians are being pushed out — not drawn away by greener pastures, but driven out by a government that is failing them.

Why People Are Leaving

A recent survey of over 3,000 former and current B.C. residents revealed why people are choosing to pack up:

• 36% cited skyrocketing housing costs — the highest in the country

• 28% pointed to excessive taxes and regulations

• 23% were concerned about job opportunities and low wages

• 18% left due to declining access to public services

Most concerning of all: those leaving are young people, the very generation B.C. needs to sustain its future. They're taking their families, skills, and aspirations to provinces like Alberta and Ontario — where housing is more affordable, job opportunities are expanding, and governments are rolling out the welcome mat.

As Gavin Dew put it:

"We are losing the next generation of young people who can’t see a future in British Columbia. They're being driven away by issues with affordability, jobs, red tape, taxes, and the failure of basic government services. This is David Eby’s B.C."

B.C. Under the NDP: Red Tape Over Red Carpet

While other provinces are working to attract talent and investment, Premier David Eby’s government continues to pile on regulation, taxes, and delays. The Business Council issued a stark warning:

“When other places like Alberta or Washington are rolling out the red carpet, we cannot be rolling out the red tape.”

Instead of building homes faster, B.C. has become a maze of permitting processes and broken promises. Instead of lowering the cost of living, new taxes and regulatory burdens are making everything — from groceries to gas — harder to afford.

Time for Change

This level of out-migration isn’t just a statistic. It’s a flashing red light. When tens of thousands of British Columbians, especially young families and skilled workers, feel forced to leave their home province, something is deeply wrong.

British Columbians deserve a government that prioritizes affordability, opportunity, and freedom — not one that burdens people with bureaucracy and drives them away.

If we want to keep the next generation in B.C., we need a new direction — and we need it now.