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Canadians are leaving the country in record numbers but Quebecers are staying put

<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-montrealer-moves-out-of-their-home.jpg?id=61138269&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C39%2C0%2C39"/><br/><br/><p>More Canadians packed their bags and left the country in 2024 than in any other year since the 1960s — but people in Quebec didn't seem to get the memo.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1710004001" target="_blank">new data from Statistics Canada</a>, 106,134 people emigrated from Canada last year, the highest number of departures since 1967. The number marks a 3% jump from 2023 and highlights a growing trend of Canadians seeking opportunities elsewhere, whether it's for cheaper rent, better weather, or a fresh start abroad.</p><p>But while provinces like Ontario and B.C. are seeing people leave in droves, Quebec is holding on to its residents.</p><p>Ontario led the country's latest exodus, accounting for nearly half of all departures despite only making up 39% of the population. That's nearly 51,000 people who left Ontario in 2024 — more than Quebec, B.C., and Alberta combined.</p><p>B.C. came in second with just under 20,000 departures, while Quebec saw only about 13,500 people leave, despite having nearly double B.C.'s population.</p><p>That puts Quebec at just 12.7% of Canada's total emigration, far below what you'd expect from a province that makes up about 22% of the national population. The numbers suggest that Quebecers are more likely to stay put, even as other Canadians head for the exits.</p><p>Quebec also saw relatively low numbers in interprovincial migration, meaning people aren't just staying in the country; they're staying in the province. That could be due to family ties, language, or simply the cost of moving being too high in a shaky economy.</p><p>Meanwhile, Alberta came out ahead, gaining a net 36,000 people from other provinces in 2024, while Ontario lost over 23,000 through interprovincial moves.</p><p>As <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/average-salary-quebec-canada-2025" target="_blank">inflation, rent, and housing stress</a> continue to drive major life decisions, one thing's clear: 2024 was a year of big moves — just not so much in la belle province.</p><p>You can explore the <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1710004001" target="_blank">entire StatCan report here</a>. </p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>