Growing up, I remember British Columbia being referred to as “The Best Place on Earth.” Our licence plates proudly display “Beautiful British Columbia.” These phrases reflect the pride people felt about living here, where they built memories, established roots, and formed connections with the people and communities around them. 

Today, too many conversations about BC – and Canada as a whole – ask whether leaving the places we call home is the only way to build a financially stable life. The meaning of home itself is shifting from a place of connection and belonging to a question of where one can afford to live.

I was reminded of this shift recently by a comment on my recently published Vancouver Sun op-ed. My article urged British Columbians to vote for a political party that prioritizes the needs of young people, given the growing unaffordability that disproportionately affects them. In response, one reader advised me to move to Regina. 

Join Us in Calling for REAL Solutions to Unaffordable Housing

I instantly thought about the trade-offs I would have to make if I left Vancouver for Regina. It would mean leaving behind 25 years of memories, relationships, and a quality of life I deeply cherish: a food scene where I can walk into almost any restaurant and find comfort in a meal, sitting at English Bay watching fireworks alongside what feels like the entire Vancouver community, walking the seawall or through Stanley Park, enjoying the liveliness of downtown or Kitsilano on weekend nights, and, of course, having mountains and trees practically at my doorstep. 

I’d also be leaving behind family, friendships, and professional connections that could lead to future job opportunities – and a support system I've spent years building. I would be putting my education at a top Canadian university on hold to start over somewhere unfamiliar, without people I could call for help. Beyond finding affordable housing, I would need to secure employment that pays a livable wage, and consider factors like neighbourhood safety and access to essential services. If I decided to start a family in the future, I would face the additional challenge of finding affordable childcare without nearby family or friends to rely on for support.

As I reflected on the practicality of relocating in pursuit of affordability and the broader implications of the housing crisis for young Canadians, I was reminded that this is a reality many young people are currently facing, have already faced, or are seriously contemplating. It speaks to the magnitude of the problem, the disproportionate pressures it places on younger generations, and the ongoing sacrifices they are expected to make. With Canada's National Housing Strategy up for renewal in 2027, it is especially important that we recognize these sacrifices, and call on Ottawa to develop policies that meaningfully address unaffordability in all of the places young people live now – not just expect them to move to find it.

In 2022, 43.6% of Canadians aged 25–34 reported that rising housing prices influenced their moving decisions. Two-thirds of people who left BC for other provinces in 2022 were under 40. More than 35,000 families left the Greater Toronto Area last year for other parts of Canada, while more than one-third of Toronto residents reported being at least somewhat likely to leave the city within the next five years. The search for affordability even extends beyond provincial borders, with approximately 35,600 people leaving Canada altogether.

Relocation has become increasingly normalized as a response to housing unaffordability. Open almost any comments section where someone is sharing how the housing crisis has affected their life, and you'll find people discussing their plans to relocate, sharing their own experiences of moving, or advising others to simply move somewhere cheaper. Leaving behind a life you've spent years building should not be treated as an acceptable solution to Canada’s persistently high housing costs. It’s one thing to relocate to pursue new education, career, or romantic opportunities. It’s another to feel compelled to leave because the housing crisis has made staying financially impossible. 

Many older Canadians had the opportunity to establish roots in their communities when wages and housing costs were more closely aligned – and have since benefited from rising home values that grow their housing wealth. As a society, we recognize the importance of allowing seniors to age in place without disrupting their communities and connections. We recognize social isolation among seniors as a serious public health concern and understand the social and emotional costs of displacement. This is part of why we value policies that support older adults to remain in their homes and communities, preserving the relationships and support networks they've spent decades building. 

Why, then, are younger generations expected to sacrifice the places they call home to adapt to a housing affordability crisis they did not create? 

What often gets overlooked in this advice to “just move” is that the housing crisis is a national issue that disproportionately affects younger generations and renters of all ages. While provinces like Alberta and Manitoba remain more affordable than BC and Ontario, housing costs have risen substantially across the country. In 2000, it took a typical young person an average of 5.8 years of full-time work to save for a 20% down payment on an average-priced home in Alberta and just 4 years in Manitoba. Today, that same goal would take 9.9 years in Alberta and 8.3 years in Manitoba.*

Relocating may offer slightly more affordability in some places, but it does not guarantee financial stability. As a growing number of people consider moving to traditionally more affordable provinces, increased housing demand puts upward pressure on prices – meaning the affordability people move in search of may be far from sustainable over the long term. 

Relocation also may come with other expenses. In 2023, Alberta households spent an average of $12,188 annually on private transportation, the highest among Canadian provinces. Moving to lower-cost suburbs can mean longer commutes, which are associated with higher stress levels, lower life satisfaction, and reduced productivity both at work and in everyday life. For those hoping to start a family, access to affordable childcare is another consideration. Despite the expansion of $10-a-day childcare, nearly half of Canadian parents reported difficulty finding affordable childcare. In Manitoba, the average wait for a child care space is 17 months. 

Leaving the place you call home in search of affordability is something a growing number of young people must contemplate in response to the housing crisis – but it’s not the only adaptation they are making. Younger generations are living with their parents longer, sharing overcrowded housing, accepting unfamiliar or potentially unsafe living arrangements, and working more years to save for a down payment – all of which takes a toll on well-being. 

Relocation is not a housing policy, and it does nothing to improve affordability. We need to stand together and say enough is enough. We need housing policies that promote intergenerational fairness, recognize the sacrifices younger generations are continually expected to make, and allow young Canadians to choose where they call home based on where they have support, feel connected, and can pursue education and job opportunities – not simply where they can afford to live.

If you’re finding that the housing affordability crisis has redefined your ability to call a place home, share those feelings with us and turn them into collective action that can create meaningful change. As Ottawa plans for the next iteration of the National Housing Strategy, now is an important opportunity to make our voices heard and call on political leaders to address the disproportionate pressures younger Canadians face. Together, we can work toward a future where hard work can once again translate into the lives we are working so hard to build.

Collective action can influence government decision-making. Join Generation Squeeze to advocate for housing policies that allow younger Canadians to build financially stable lives without having to leave the communities they call home. Change is possible when we show up in numbers. The more people we have behind us, the more effectively we can amplify our collective voices in politics and work toward a Canada where we can restore the true meaning of home.

Your Voice Adds Power - Join Gen Squeeze!

* Data from the forthcoming 2026 Straddling the Gap report.