MISSISSAUGA, ON – Canadian truckers might want to get ready for a busy holiday season this winter because more folks in Western Canada plan to buy their gifts online, a new poll shows.

“Doing all or some of our holiday shopping online is now the new norm in Canada,” said Lisa Lisson, president of FedEx Express Canada. “Canadians put a lot of work and effort into preparing for the holidays. Canadians are discovering that shopping online helps to alleviate much of the stress in the lead-up to the holidays.”

The third annual FedEx Express Canada Online Shopping Intentions Survey shows the number of online consumers in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan expected to grow by double-digits.

As many as six out of 10 shoppers plan to turn to e-commerce this year as opposed to 51 percent last year.

By the numbers:

• 68: percentage of British Columbians who plan to shop online this holiday season –
• 19 percent higher than in 2013;
• 69: percentage of Albertans  who plan to online shop this holiday season, up 13 percent from 2013;
• 63: percentage of Ontarians who will shop online this holiday season, up from 54 percent last year;
• 62: percentage of Manitoba residents who plan to online shop in 2014, up from 54 percent in 2013;
• 53: percentage of folks in either Quebec or Atlantic Canada who plan to shop online this holiday season.

“The online holiday shopping season is an exciting time for FedEx as it represents a tremendous opportunity for Canadian consumers and businesses,” Lisson said. “Online shoppers have more options at their fingertips while e-tailers have potential access to a growing customer base. Our mission at FedEx is to connect online businesses with their online shoppers, helping to make the holiday season easier and worry-free for all.”

And FedEx is growing its Canadian presence to keep up with increased e-commerce.

FedEx has:

• Expanded its retail network that accommodates all shipping and printing needs in key markets across Canada;
• Partnered with Home Hardware in March to host FedEx Authorized ShipCentres in participating stores throughout Canada;
• Made a similar agreement in September to hose Authorized ShipCentres at 86 Super C stores across Quebec.
  

“The purpose behind these agreements is to offer Canadians more local points-of-access for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services, including the full-suite of shipping options at each participating store,” FedEx claims.