A new report from the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy reveals that Canada is experiencing a significant brain drain, with young, educated citizens moving to the United States in record numbers. The study, released this week and authored by Jack Mintz and Neil Seeman, cites jobs, taxes, and Canada’s collapsing healthcare system as primary drivers.
Key Findings from the Study
The report used innovative web-intercept technology to poll more than 4,000 Americans about the reasons their Canadian neighbors gave for relocating. Among respondents who stated a reason, 28% cited greater job opportunities, 26% pointed to access and quality of healthcare, and 14% blamed taxes. Combined, healthcare and tax reasons account for approximately 40% of all reported relocations.
“The generally positive perception of relocation suggests that the U.S. is successfully meeting or exceeding Canadians’ expectations in several key areas,” the report states.
Scale of Emigration
According to a 2024 OECD report, 19,300 Canadians permanently emigrated to the United States in 2022, a 65% increase from the previous year. Statistics Canada data shows that between 30,000 and 35,000 Canadians left for other countries as of 2023. The study notes that two-thirds of those leaving are aged 20 to 44, and 70% hold university degrees.
“These statistics provide valuable insights into the scale and dynamism of the phenomenon, but their ability to explain specific motivations is limited,” the report reads, adding that Statistics Canada does not release comprehensive data on reasons for departures.
Healthcare as a Key Driver
Healthcare-related reasons for leaving increase with age, peaking among those 65 and over (38%) compared to 27% for those aged 18 to 24. However, the report emphasizes that healthcare is a broad concern: “This underscores that health-care system performance is not a niche concern of older Canadians but a broad structural driver of emigration.”
“Combined, health care and tax reasons represent approximately 40% of all reported relocations among relocator-aware respondents — a striking share that points to structural policy concerns well beyond individual circumstances,” the report adds.
