Over the past decade, many communities in Northeastern Ontario and Nova Scotia experienced in-migration from other regions of Canada at levels not seen for more than half a century. With co-authors from Western University and Acadia University, Dr. Suzanne Mills and recent PhD graduate Dr. Jelena Starcevic examined how this migration wave relates to work and affordability through a SSHRC-funded project, “The Future of Work: Interregional Migration to the Maritimes and Northern Ontario.”
The research shows how affordability is becoming a key driver of internal migration trends in Canada. Instead of moving for lucrative work opportunities, people were often moving away from work. For some, working remotely made it possible to move away from more job dense regions, while for others, cheaper housing made it economically feasible to work less, quit a stressful job or pursue a passion project.
The quest for affordability, however, also introduced new forms of precarity. Some people left their jobs in search of cheaper rents only to find themselves unemployed in regions with few jobs and rising costs. Moreover, the influx of new residents and investment increased costs in receiving regions, pushing more people to the margins. The report highlights how Canada’s affordability crisis has created ripple effects across the country that have reshaped work and livelihoods.