Canada’s population growth is now almost entirely driven by immigration. But where newcomers settle does not necessarily match where the country needs them most. Three out of four Canadians already live in one of Canada’s 41 census metropolitan areas (CMAs), and that share keeps climbing. In contrast, rural and remote communities — which still generate roughly a quarter of national GDP and underpin the agriculture, energy and resource sectors — face an aging population, shrinking tax bases and persistent labour shortages. There is a location mismatch: a growing gap between where immigrants settle and where they are most needed. This mismatch is rooted in a longer historical shift. Industrialization once pulled both Canadian-born and immigrant populations toward urban centres. That pull has only intensified as fertility has declined and immigration has become almost the only source of population growth. by Michael Haan, Lindsay Finlay, Taylor Paul August 27, 2026