Murdochville, January 12, 2023 — For a 6th consecutive year, the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region has maintained its status as an attractive place to live by once again achieving a positive inter-regional migration balance according to the most recent data from the Institut de la Statistique du Québec (ISQ) released just yesterday. In 2021-2022, the region recorded its highest number of newcomers, just behind the record of +1,378 people set in 2020-2021, and is an exception amongst Quebec’s remote regions in that it is the only one to have a positive net migration for so many years in a row.

Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region attracted 2,398 new people, bringing its inter-regional net migration to +742 people, with gains in almost all age groups. All things considered, the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine ranks 5th amongst all Quebec regions with a net inter-regional migration rate of 0.8%, coming in just behind the Laurentides, Estrie, Mauricie and Lanaudière regions. “It is a great source of pride that our region continues to stand out on a national scale, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the demographic players who work with us,” says Danik O’Connor, Stratégie Vivre en Gaspésie general manager.

Gains for the region

Once again, all areas in Gaspésie are doing well. The portrait presented by ISQ shows that all of the Gaspésie’s RCMs have had a positive inter-regional migration balance over the past two years, and the ISQ estimates that the region’s population has increased for a third consecutive year, rising from 92,015 to 92,403 inhabitants between 2021 and 2022.

“This latest migration report confirms that our region was attractive before the pandemic and that it has remained so during this period as well. To see our population increase for a third consecutive year tells us that all the hard work done to reverse the demographic trend is paying off,” says O’Connor.

Interpreting the data

Net migration is the difference between the number of people who enter an area and the number of people who leave it during a given year. ISQ analyses the migratory movements between the regions of Québec and publishes a report at the beginning of the year. The latest report came out on January 11, 2023 and compiles data from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Each year, the general manager of Vivre en Gaspésie conducts an in-depth analysis of migration data.

About

Vivre en Gaspésie is supported by some fifty partner agencies. This regional strategy aims to contribute to the demographic growth and dynamic occupation of all areas in Gaspésie. In concrete terms, its actions revolve around three axes: promoting the region within the population, attracting new people, and integrating newcomers. More information is available at vivreengaspesie.com.

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Source and information:

Emmanuelle Desrochers-Perrault
Conseillère – Communications numériques
Vivre en Gaspésie
418 360-5566