BC-Alberta Trade Statistics

Since the inception of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) in 1995, interprovincial exports have increased by 80 per cent from Alberta to British Columbia and by 104 per cent from British Columbia to Alberta (1996-2005). In 2005, exports between the two provinces totalled $22 billion.

Between 2001 and 2006, Real GDP growth reached 22 per cent for Alberta with an increase in 2006 of 6.8 per cent. British Columbia showed similar growth patterns with a Real GDP growth rate of almost 20 percent in the same time span, including a 3.6 per cent growth rate in 2006.

The provinces of Alberta and British Columbia have also remained the largest beneficiaries in Canada in terms of total net migration (the sum of people moving to Alberta or British Columbia from other provinces and net international migration). Between 2002 and 2007, Alberta's population increased by 284,829 people, and British Columbia's population grew by 235,509.

The implementation of TILMA presents a great opportunity for continued economic growth in both provinces. Considering that trade between the two provinces increased at an average of 28 per cent for both provinces between 2001 and 2006, that number has the potential to grow even higher when goods, services, capital and labour flow more freely.