It was another year of cross-country moves for Canadians—and one West Coast province pulled into the lead as the favourite.

For the second year in a row, Alberta took the cake as the province with the most growth, according to U-Haul’s Growth Index. The index analyzes one-way customer transactions throughout the year.

“People are moving to Alberta because of the opportunities and investments being made in the province,” said Naga Chennamsetty, U-Haul area district vice president, in a news release. 

Chennamsetty noted that the growth we’re seeing in Alberta is the result of interprovincial migration rather than international immigration. New residents are attracted by the province’s job availability, low taxes, and affordable housing. 

Calgary, Edmonton lead in city growth

Alberta’s two largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton, also ranked as the cities with the highest growth in Canada. In 2024, 51.2 percent of Alberta’s U-Haul traffic was coming into the province, while Ontario lost 50.7 percent of its traffic.

British Columbia took the position as provincial runner-up, while Ontario ranked 10th for the second straight year. However, the province boasts 16 out of the 25 top growth cities, with Belleville, Pembroke, and Trenton following the top two cities.

“Ontario will always be the economic heart of Canada and has so much to offer its residents,” said Jake Spelic, U-Haul area district vice president. “What is interesting on our growth cities list is that all the top destinations in Ontario are smaller cities, and most are considered four-season recreational areas.”

Spelic said that this trend points to buyers and renters looking for affordable housing outside of busy metropolitans. 

Newfoundland and Labrador also jumped from the seventh to third growth province, pointing to its heightened popularity for Canadians. 

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