A portrait of interregional migration in Quebec illustrates that at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, several regions outside the major centers have recorded record gains.
The Sociodemographic Bulletin that the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) published on Thursday reports that between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 232,000 people changed their administrative region of residence in Quebec, i.e. 19% more than ‘during the year 2019-2020.
Several regions recorded their strongest gains in their migratory exchanges since the data became available, namely 2001-2002. This was particularly the case of regions adjacent to Montreal, but also of Estrie, Mauricie and certain more remote regions such as Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Saguenay-Lac. -Saint Jean.
On the other hand, the ISQ observed that the regions where the largest centers are located have all seen their migratory results deteriorate, in particular that of Montreal.
The Laurentians region won the prize for the strongest gains in its migratory exchanges in 2020-2021, by virtue of a net gain of 12,700 people, or the equivalent of 2% of its population.
Estrie, which now includes the MRCs of Brome-Missisquoi and La Haute-Yamaska, posted a balance of 8,600 people, in second place. Gains reached records in Mauricie, Center-du-Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches.
Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean also posted their highest interregional migration figures in 2020-2021, with gains of around 1,500 people. These three regions, which have often been in deficit in their migratory exchanges in the past, have improved their results in recent years, but the increase has been particularly strong for two years.
Montreal suffered a net loss of 48,300 people in its migratory exchanges with other regions, which represented a deficit of 2.6% in proportion to its population, its heaviest since 2001-2002. Moreover, Montreal’s losses have tended to increase in recent years.
The Montérégie, the Capitale-Nationale, the Outaouais and Laval also saw their migratory results deteriorate in 2020-2021. The Montérégie and the Capitale-Nationale remain among the winning regions, but with lesser gains, while the Outaouais has seen its gains disappear, a first for the region. As for Laval, it remains on the side of the deficit regions with increased losses compared to 2019-2020.
Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec did not see any notable increase in their internal migratory balance in 2020-2021. They continued to lose residents to other regions.