Montréal and adjacent region

This region includes Montréal, as well as Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel, Joliette and Lachute. In 2001, its population amounted to just over 3.7 million, up 2.8% from 1996, which was the slowest rate of growth among the four urban regions. This region accounted for 52% of Quebec's population and 12% of Canada's.

Relative to its population, the census metropolitan area of Montréal did not receive as many immigrants as Toronto or Vancouver. Between 1996 and 2001, it received 126,000 new immigrants, a rate of 7 a year for every 1,000 population (the national average), compared with 19 for Toronto and 18 for Vancouver. Furthermore, Montréal had a net outflow of population to other provinces.

Growth rates varied among the municipalities that form the Montréal and adjacent region. Four of the 25 fastest growing municipalities in Canada are in this region: Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Blainville, Mirabel and Saint-Colomban. In addition, the urban centres of Joliette and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu grew more quickly than the census metropolitan area of Montréal. However, the population of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Hyacinthe and Sorel-Tracy, on the south shore of the island of Montréal, all declined in population.

The rest of Quebec outside Montréal and the adjacent region experienced, on average, a slight decline in population. However, this average is the result of slow growth in parts of the province and decline elsewhere.

The census metropolitan areas of Sherbrooke, Québec and the Quebec portion of the census metropolitan area of Ottawa-Hull all grew in population.