Montrealers flee to regions
Radio-Canada looks at Montrealers who have fled to the regions, although some are folks who came from smaller towns, lived here for a time, and are now going back home. News? Or hasn’t there always been some va‑et‑vient between the big city and places like Drummondville?
Ephraim 13:52 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
Ah yes… all those people running away from the big city. It’s such a giant wave. You would think that Montreal would be empty by now… but no, the population of Montreal and the Greater Montreal region just continue to grow. Hurrah, move back to Victoriaville, someone else needs an apartment/house. BYE!
DeWolf 14:54 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
The ISQ projection that Montreal Island will grow in population by only 3 percent over the next 20 years is based entirely on the first two years of the pandemic, when there was a sudden uptick of out-migration with very little no immigration to replace the people who left. That’s an annual growth rate of 0.15% – compared to the island’s average annual growth rate of 0.59% over the past decade. I’m extremely sceptical that this will actually play out, now that immigrants are arriving at the same rate as before the pandemic.
Em 14:55 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
The people cited in this story were already from or had previously lived in the regions and went back or moved full time, so I’m not sure “fled” is the right word.
In any case, I think Canada would be much better off if more of the jobs, people and opportunities were spread to more cities instead of concentrated in just a small handful. It’s better for housing affordability in the big cities, and the smaller places will benefit from having more young workers and families.
shawn 16:35 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
I’m no expert but there’ve been similar stories about people leaving Toronto to move or return to smaller centres…
qatzelok 18:28 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
If your life in Montreal is about staying in your bungalow and driving to malls, you might as well move to Drummondville and pay a lot less for your lawn.
Suburbanites don’t really get to enjoy what the city has to offer, and suburban Drummondville is a very close approximation of suburban Montreal.
Uatu 20:29 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
They may have left, but I’m sure that their kids will end up in Montreal when they turn 18. Most kids from burbs and small towns all share the same desire: to gtfo to the city and get away from the folks
Kate 22:48 on 2023-02-15 Permalink
For awhile, but when they begin to breed, they swim back upstream to the suburbs and towns where they began, and thus the circle of life continues.
Ian 08:33 on 2023-02-16 Permalink
And like the mighty salmon, spawning then dying where they themselves came into the world. Majestic 😀