Did Canada ever drive on the left side of the road?

Yes—but only in some regions and only until the early 20th century. Several Canadian provinces, especially in the Maritimes and British Columbia, originally followed left-hand traffic under British influence and switched to right-hand traffic between 1922 and 1924 to align with the United States; Newfoundland (not yet part of Canada) drove on the left until 1947 and changed before joining Canada in 1949. Today, all of Canada drives on the right.

How Canada’s road rules evolved

Canada’s traffic conventions reflect a tug-of-war between British and American influences. In the 19th century, British colonies tended to keep left, while jurisdictions tied closely to U.S. trade and travel kept right. Over time, the spread of automobiles and cross-border road networks pushed provinces toward uniformity—and toward the right-hand rule dominant in North America.

When provinces changed from left to right

The timeline varied by region. The West and central provinces generally used right-hand rules from early on, while British Columbia and the Maritime provinces kept left into the 1920s. Below is a concise overview of the best-documented shifts and longstanding practices across Canada.

• British Columbia: Drove on the left until January 1, 1922, then switched to the right to match neighboring Washington State and modern motor traffic patterns.
• New Brunswick: Used left-hand rules into the early 1920s and changed to right in 1922, harmonizing with Maine and adjacent provinces.
• Nova Scotia: Drove on the left until 1923, then switched to the right to align with regional and cross-border traffic.
• Prince Edward Island: Kept left until May 1, 1924—famously marked as the “Day of the Switch”—after a targeted public education campaign.
• Ontario and Quebec: Have observed right-hand traffic since the 19th century, influenced by U.S. practices and long-established right-side customs.
• Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the North (Yukon, Northwest Territories): Adopted right-hand traffic as their rules were formalized, following North American norms from the outset.

Taken together, these changes meant mainland Canada had standardized on right-hand driving by the mid-1920s, simplifying travel and commerce across provincial and international borders.

Why provinces switched

Multiple practical forces drove the transition from left to right in the early 20th century, particularly in provinces with strong British ties. The main drivers were economic alignment, safety, and the rise of the automobile industry.

• Cross-border trade and travel: Harmonizing with the United States reduced confusion and accidents at border crossings and along interprovincial routes.
• Motorization: As car ownership surged, consistent rules became essential for signage, road design, and driver training.
• Vehicle design: Most cars imported from or built for the North American market were left-hand-drive, optimized for right-side traffic.
• Insurance and safety standards: Uniformity simplified enforcement, liability rules, and public safety campaigns.

By synchronizing with U.S. practice, provinces improved safety and made it easier for drivers and freight to move across the continent without changing driving conventions.

What about Newfoundland?

Newfoundland, then a separate dominion, drove on the left well into the 20th century. It switched to right-hand traffic in 1947 to align with mainland Canada and the United States. When Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, it was already driving on the right, ensuring nationwide uniformity.

Present-day practice and legacy

Canada is now uniformly a right-hand-traffic country. While you may encounter right-hand-drive vehicles (often imported specialty or classic cars), they operate on the standard right-hand side of the road. The legacy of earlier left-hand rules survives mainly in historical accounts and commemorations—such as P.E.I.’s well-remembered “Day of the Switch.”

Summary

Canada did have left-hand driving—most notably in British Columbia and the Maritime provinces—until a series of early 1920s switches brought the country into alignment with the United States. Newfoundland, not yet part of Canada, changed from left to right in 1947 and joined Canada in 1949. Since then, Canada has been a right-hand-traffic nation from coast to coast.