Maple News reports that rising housing costs are pushing many newcomers to Canada to consider relocating within the country—or even leaving it altogether. A recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute reveals that nearly 40% of newcomers who arrived in the past decade are thinking about moving, citing financial pressures related to rent and home ownership.
Affordability remains a key concern for immigrants in urban hubs like Vancouver and Toronto, where average rent for a one-bedroom apartment hit $2,671 and $2,479 respectively as of June 2024. Nationally, rental prices have surged over 17% year-over-year, adding to the burden already posed by high home prices. Even though the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) reports a slight 4% dip in average home prices—now at $699,117—that relief is small comfort amid soaring rents.
According to Statistics Canada’s latest census, 59% of recent immigrants are renters, making them especially vulnerable to rising rental costs. Many newcomers, often highly skilled and initially drawn to Canada’s largest cities by job opportunities, are now reassessing their long-term future in the country.
The trend is particularly acute in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, where housing costs are highest. Angus Reid’s data shows that residents—both foreign-born and Canadian-born—living in these provinces are most likely to be evaluating a move, either to a more affordable province or out of Canada entirely.
Nationally, 42% of respondents said they would consider relocating abroad. Of those, 15% are eyeing the United States, while 27% are considering other international destinations. Interestingly, even long-term immigrants—those who have lived in Canada for over a decade—are not immune. About 36% of them also expressed a willingness to leave Canada in search of more affordable living arrangements.
These responses highlight growing concern not just about housing affordability but about the long-term retention of skilled immigrants, a group essential to Canada’s labor market and population growth. As housing affordability continues to dominate headlines, the future of settlement patterns in Canada may be shifting.
Policymakers at the federal and provincial levels may need to pay closer attention to housing reforms tailored to immigrant populations to maintain the country’s appeal as a welcoming and economically viable destination.