The Business Council of British Columbia has launched an awareness campaign to counter the province91裸聊视频檚 rising outward migration to Alberta.

The business advocacy group says its 91裸聊视频淪tay with B.C.91裸聊视频� campaign is placing advertisements on billboards and transit stops, as well as online, in cities such as Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George, urging residents to think twice before moving to Alberta for economic or other reasons.

Council president Laura Jones says the campaign is inspired by the 91裸聊视频淎lberta is Calling91裸聊视频� campaign launched in 2022, targeting skilled workers in other provinces with financial incentives and promises of better affordability at a comparable lifestyle.

Data released by Statistics Canada in April, say B.C. lost more people than it gained in interprovincial migration in 2023 for the first time in more than a decade, with a net loss of 8,624 people to other Canadian jurisdictions.

Alberta reported a gain of 55,000 91裸聊视频� the biggest interprovincial increase recorded since tracking began in 1972 91裸聊视频� and it was the most popular Canadian destination for those leaving B.C.

Jones says that while the 91裸聊视频淪tay with B.C.91裸聊视频� campaign 91裸聊视频渄oesn91裸聊视频檛 have all the answers91裸聊视频� on stemming the population flow, it has the potential to spur conversations among people who are considering a move.

The advertisements are designed to look like an incoming cellphone call or an online dating profile from Alberta, with messages prompting readers to reconsider answering or 91裸聊视频渟wiping right91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� a term for accepting someone on a dating app.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e all heard those Alberta91裸聊视频檚 Calling ads, and also Invest Alberta is being pretty assertive right now and they91裸聊视频檝e opened an office in British Columbia,91裸聊视频� Jones says. 91裸聊视频淪o, we thought this would be a way to put the focus on a strong economy while having a little fun.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a very serious topic,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淲e want young people to see a future in the province. But that doesn91裸聊视频檛 mean we can91裸聊视频檛 have a little bit of fun to get people91裸聊视频檚 attention on the importance of a strong economy.91裸聊视频�

Alberta91裸聊视频檚 third-quarter population report released this week says the province recorded Canada91裸聊视频檚 highest interprovincial migration gains for the ninth straight quarter, adding 3,170 more people from B.C. than it lost in the other direction.

Only Ontario had a higher net-loss of residents with 4,369 for the three-month period.

Premier David Eby had said B.C. is tackling the issue of affordability and economic opportunities for skilled labour 91裸聊视频渉ead on,91裸聊视频� but also noted that the province did see an overall population increase of more than 178,000 in 2023 that was fuelled by international migration.

Morgan Westcott, associate dean of marketing programs at the B.C. Institute of Technology, says it will be up to government and stakeholders to address affordability in the province, but there is more the province can do with branding to attract and keep talent from moving to Alberta.

Westcott says B.C. has been very effective in marketing itself as a tourism destination, and the province91裸聊视频檚 natural beauty should be leveraged more, not only for getting visitors, but as a selling point for skilled labour.

91裸聊视频淚 think sometimes what we91裸聊视频檙e missing in B.C. is this singularity of brand, and of voice, and of purpose in our campaigns,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淏ecause if it91裸聊视频檚 an attractive place to visit for a weekend, it should be an attractive place to settle and to invest and to build your future. And sometimes I think we really miss an opportunity when we treat them as two separate things.91裸聊视频�

Westcott notes that the 91裸聊视频淎lberta is Calling91裸聊视频� campaign places lifestyle as one of its three pillars for attracting skilled labour, alongside career opportunities and affordability, with all three factors forming the foundation of the Alberta brand.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 a Vancouver born-and-raised person, so I91裸聊视频檓 very biased, but it is fairly spectacular what we have available to us, and it is on a different level,91裸聊视频� she says of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 access to nature and quality of life.

91裸聊视频�(Alberta) is leveraging some very similar things, and yet at the same time, I think we do have different cities that are vibrant in different ways,91裸聊视频� she says.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know how you tackle the affordability piece 91裸聊视频� and I say that as a life-long Vancouverite 91裸聊视频� and maybe it91裸聊视频檚 not about that. Maybe it91裸聊视频檚 about that 91裸聊视频� something that91裸聊视频檚 this exceptional 91裸聊视频� does come at a cost.91裸聊视频�

Jones says the business council will be tracking future population numbers and economic indicators to see if its advertisements have moved the needle in keeping talent in B.C., and her team is already thinking about the next phase of the campaign.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got lots and lots of opportunity to create those high-paying jobs, and we just need to lean into making sure that all of our sectors can be thriving,91裸聊视频� she says.