A report from the Fraser Institute that looks at migration patterns in this country reflects the story of Newfoundland and Labrador for decades: young people leaving this province to seek their fortune elsewhere.

Statistics Canada’s most recent interprovincial migration data shows migration to and from Atlantic Canada is returning to its pre-COVID pattern, with outflows of younger working-age people and inflows of older Canadians.

The author of the report, Fred McMahon is a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute,. He says even during COVID, Newfoundland and Labrador was still experiencing a net loss of the younger working contingent, unlike the rest of Atlantic Canada.

He says there were a couple of surprising findings including one that if you take Alberta out of the equation, the flow between Atlantic Canada and the rest of Canada is about equal.

The numbers regarding Newfoundland and Labrador are similar.

“Without Alberta, the province gains as many as it loses,” says McMahon.