According to a Western University researcher, Canada’s rural communities face population decline unless policies direct immigrants to smaller towns rather than cities. The rural population has been decreasing for over 55 years. For instance, in Ontario, the rural population was 37% of the total in 1966 but only 17% in 2021. Additionally, rural Canada is aging faster than urban areas. Immigrants are less likely to move to rural Canada due to factors like limited transportation, employment, educational opportunities, and potential discrimination. City-based settlement services and co-ethnic ties make urban living more appealing.
