The Greater Montreal area could lose 113,000 residents over the next decade, a demographic decline that could hurt businesses, the region’s chambers of commerce warn. That’s the finding of a study by consulting firm Aviseo Conseil commissioned by the Regroupement des chambres de commerce du Grand Montréal and released Wednesday. The trend, combined with an aging population, means the share of working-age people would decline relative to the number of young people and seniors. The vast majority of businesses — 85 per cent — expect to hire immigrants, according to a survey of 470 respondents. Most say they are doing so to maintain their operations. The report estimates that Quebec would need to raise its permanent immigration target to 61,000 to curb the decline in the Montreal region. Jean-Denis Charest, president and CEO of the Chambre de commerce de l’Est de Montréal (CCEM), says Montreal is headed for a demographic “wall.” He declined to comment on the various political parties’ proposals on immigration targets. He believes Quebec should develop a better long-term overview to assess its capacity to accommodate newcomers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 23, 2026.
