More and more immigrants choose to live outside of Canada's major centers.
More temporary residents are settling outside of Canada's major cities, according to news website CIC News.
A recent study by the Conference Board of Canada (CoBC) found that newcomers to Canada are increasingly choosing to settle outside of urban centers.
The study used data from 2016 and 2021 to show differences in immigration to urban centers and surrounding areas.
Quebec was found to have the largest number of newcomers living in the ring of census divisions surrounding Montreal, Laval and Longueuil. Comparable results were observed in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Regions outside York (just north of Toronto) and Peel (west of Toronto, where Mississauga is located) were found to have immigrant populations of 8.1% and 5.4%, respectively.
However, outside these regions, this percentage increases from 19 to 30%. For example, the Simcoe, Ontario census division recorded a 33,58% increase in immigrants between 2016 and 2021.
Recent increase in numbers of temporary residents
The report notes that much of the increase in newcomers in rural communities can be attributed to the recent increase in the number of temporary residents in Canada (those with study permits, work permits or visitor visas).
This aligns with recent data from Statistics Canada that shows temporary residents made up 804,901 of Canada's new immigrants in 2023. That's almost double the 471,551 permanent residents Canada welcomed.
The CoCB report says that between 2016 and 2021, many regions of Canada saw the temporary resident population more than double, with “some regions seeing growth of more than 1000%.”
Again, rural regions of Quebec saw the largest increase in temporary residents, with some communities reporting growth of 1.520%.
It also explained that the majority of temporary residents (and their accompanying family members) who settled in rural areas were more likely to be on work permits, while growth in urban centers would be a mix of international students and temporary foreign workers.
This means that non-urban centers are experiencing rapid population growth and demographic changes.
Is living in small towns worth it? Yes, and a lot! The quality of life in most small cities in Canada is great and well structured. Everything will depend on your objectives, whether you are coming with a family, alone, married and also on your profession (as each region of Canada has a different job market).
Therefore, the BFF Canada is here to guide you through everything.
Changes to temporary resident levels in 2024
On March 19, Immigration Minister Marc Miller made several announcements regarding the number of temporary residents in Canada. Notably, he revealed that temporary residents will be included in the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan.
The current Plan sets targets for the number of permanent residents Canada will receive next year, and theoretical targets for the following two years. The Minister said adding temporary resident tiers to the Plan could serve as a “soft cap” on the number of temporary residents Canada will receive in the future.
The minister also announced that there will be more “domestic invitations” to become a permanent resident of Canada. This could mean that temporary residents already living and working in Canada could have an advantage if they decide to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program. Therefore, being here, whether studying or working, puts the aspiring immigrant in a more advantageous situation than those outside the country.
Want to know more about immigration to Canada? Contact us! Our expert consultants are here to help you at every stage of the immigration process.
Hugs,
Team BFF Canada
