By Alexander Baker, October 16, 2025
In the wake of Canada’s election, Prime Minister Mark Carney told expats: “For Canadians abroad, thinking about returning to build their lives in our nation, there’s never been a better time to come home.”
Is that true? No one in my expat community seems to think so.
Unemployment remains at a multi-year high, private capital is fleeing and exports are waning, all as more Canadians are leaving the country than ever. Statistics Canada found that 106,134 people left Canada for good in 2024, which is the highest number of annual emigrants the country has experienced since 1967. If it’s the best time to come home, why are people leaving?
While Canada offers unmatched summer beauty, the major priorities of expat professionals (and often the reason they leave) are generally: potential earnings, wealth accumulation and career progression, overall standard and cost of living (with or without kids), and day-to-day life experience and convenience. Climate, language barriers, accessible travel and access to affordable and quality education and child care are also important, depending on one’s circumstances and life stage. Longing for closeness to one’s friends, family, and childhood land is often outweighed by these practical (and primarily economic) concerns.
The enduring yet unspoken national myth that Canada – with advanced educational and training infrastructure, reputable democratic institutions, vast natural wealth, and geographic security – is automatically destined for prosperity and world-leading living standards for its citizens has collapsed. Housing affordability, salary levels relative to work demands, and opportunities for career advancement in Canada fall far short of what many expected, and some have found their expectations better met abroad.
The essential caveat to the myth is that prosperity only follows when a country maintains robust judicial, governmental, and commercial institutions – policies and systems that effectively support competitive economic activity. Yet, Canada appears unwilling to embrace significant reform. Expat professionals notice this, dampening prospects of homeward migration.
So, I ask, why has there never been a better time to come home? Is it still the promise of Canada’s potential, the promise that leaders are now pledging to unleash?
While hope endures for Canada’s promise, which is obvious even to foreigners, potential doesn’t repatriate or retain talent like realized success and actual opportunities. Why trade actual success abroad today for persistently untapped potential at home?
If this sounds harsh, consider that the last prime minister insisted that exporting LNG had no business case – an uncorrected stance that most Canadians remained silent over and cost Canadian businesses precious time. This is just one of many examples that signal a country shockingly indifferent to its citizens’ wealth and living standards, and expat professionals notice.
There are some positive signs at the federal and some provincial levels, but much more is needed to show that Canada is open for business in a way that can compete with the deep and productive markets of the United States. The frustration with Canada’s lackluster circumstances is greatest when Americans ask, “if Canada has so many resources why isn’t it the richest country in the world?” The best response I can muster is, “apparently we don’t care to be.”
The land has everything we require; excuses are few. Over the past decade, the once-broad consensus favouring democratic capitalism and a reasonably limited government – focused on essential functions like national defence, education, and health care – has fractured. Instead, it’s clear that many Canadians continue to expect their governments to play a material role in the economy and spend enormously generous amounts to address society’s perils, regardless of the costs. With that understanding broken, what could lure expat professionals home?
When new mines are shipping ore across Ontario for delivery to foreign and domestic markets; when construction of upstream and midstream infrastructure projects are seen to consistently and quickly receive final decisions on permitting applications; when the Toronto Stock Exchange’s market capitalization is punching well above its weight; when the environment for technological innovation (including its globally scaled commercialization) and related partnerships with ally nations is best-in-class; when compensation increases and the cost of living rationalizes, so a vision of the Canadian dream feels realistic; when commitment to military excellence is considered wise and patriotic; when labour markets are not riddled with obstacles to full employment; when policy is clearly crafted to support the productivity of Canada’s incredible natural and human resources; when the provinces start supporting one another’s economic growth in a consistent way – all while maintaining quality and accessible public health care and education systems – then Canada will be hard to resist. Until then, most expat professionals will likely stay put.
Alexander Baker is a Canadian citizen living as a Permanent Resident in the United States. The views expressed are entirely his own.
