Outlying Areas
|| Contagious robustness!
The Quebec City CMA's robust economic health has benefited county regional municipalities (CRMs) in the outlying areas. The opposite, however, is also true. A spillover effect has been observed, with more than 90 large-scale projects totalling $3.6 billion either underway or announced in the outlying areas of the Quebec City metropolitan region. The combined effect of this phenomenon is helping to forge links between various economic sectors while increasing employment opportunities, extending the public service offer and stimulating the tourist sector.
|| The northern outlying areas5 are benefiting from their proximity to Quebec City
DYNAMISM BENEFITS
THE NORTHERN
OUTLYING AREAS
Economic stakeholders in the northern outlying areas are increasingly comfortable with the fact that it is more efficient and more profitable for their regions to capitalize on their proximity to Quebec City. Some CRMs are benefiting from exurbanization due to the availability of affordable land and properties. This is contributing to the demographic increase; it is also placing upward pressure on the offer of private and public services. In this regard, commercial activity is expanding and new public infrastructure is being built (schools, libraries, multi-function buildings, daycare centres, etc.).
The northern outlying areas have also invested large sums in improving their tourist offer in the past few years; various projects are currently underway (Massif de Charlevoix, Vallée Bras-du-Nord, etc.). The existing stakeholders are seeking to adjust to the needs of the local population, as well as to those of international visitors, by offering a wealth of sports and recreational activities, in addition to relaxation centres and business meeting sites. Additional efforts will be required to maximize the benefits stemming from proximity to an international airport, a cruiseship terminal and the resumption of tourist rail operations in Charlevoix.
|| Challenges facing the southern outlying areas6
SOUTHERN
OUTLYING
AREAS
The southern outlying areas have a diversified industrial base. Needless to say, some economic sectors have been hit hard by the Canadian dollar's rise in value against the US dollar, coupled with increased border openness to international products, the US economic slowdown and higher production costs in recent years. Some companies have streamlined their operations and have relocated or closed their production facilities. Others have taken the opportunity to diversify their production and export markets. Additional efforts will be required to maintain the market leaders' financial health, particularly those specializing in metal, chemical, rubber and plastic products, as well as wood. In that regard, Quebec City's proximity may prove to be very useful when it comes to finding qualified workers, offering certain opportunities and promoting innovation by forging links with the R&D sector.
There will be additional challenges for the southern outlying areas. A number of CRMs are currently facing demographic decline, particularly those on the eastern and western edges. The closure of major companies and the slowdown in agricultural activities in recent years have precipitated an exodus of young families. This situation is not favourable to the expansion of private services (businesses, restaurants, etc.) or public services (schools, daycares, roads, etc.). The next generation is another concern. The Beauce School of Entrepreneurship was created to train the next crop of entrepreneurs. However, there are fewer and fewer young people available to fill the shoes of those who will be retiring in the not-too-distant future. Currently, the southern outlying areas have only six or seven young people aged 20 to 29 ready to replace 10 people about to retire. The Beauce region7 is the only exception, with a replacement ratio at the equilibrium point (10 new workers for every 10 retirees). Further efforts will thus be required to promote the employment outlook in these regions, particularly among young people.
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the northern outlying areas.
6 The CRMs of Les Appalaches, Beauce-Sartigan, Les Etchemins, L'Islet, Lotbinière, Montmagny, Nouvelle Beauce
and Robert Cliche comprise the southern outlying areas.
7 The Beauce region includes the CRMs of Beauce-Sartigan, Nouvelle Beauce and Robert Cliche.
| Q3-2012 | Q2-2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| Quebec (province) | +1.1% | +0.9% |
| Canada | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| Q4-2012 | Q4-2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 422,600 (-1.4%) | 428,500 (+1.7%) |
| Quebec (province) | 4,022,100 (+2.7%) | 3,917,900 (-0.6%) |
| Q4-2012 | Q4-2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | -5,900 | +7,300 |
| Quebec (province) | +104,200 | -22,000 |
| Q4-2012 | Q4-2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| Quebec (province) | 7.1% | 7.7 % |
| 2012f | 2011f | 2010r | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 10.4 B$ (+2.8 %) | 10.2 B$ (+2.6 %) | 9.9 B$ (+2.0%) |
| Quebec (province) | 70.8 B$ (+5.6 %) | 67.0 B$ (+6.2 %) | 63.1 B$ (+7.2%) |
(total invested)
| Q4-2012 | Q3-2012 | Q2-2012 |
|---|---|---|
| 25.5 (+115.5%) | 5.2 M$ (+28.9%) | 5.1 M$ (-7.9%) |
(Q4-2012)
| Vacancy rate | Average net rent | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 6.4% | $11.71 sq. ft. |
| Downtown Quebec City | 7.8% | $11.59 sq. ft. |
| Ste-Foy | 5.8% | $11.94 sq. ft. |
| Northwest sector | 6.7% | $11.33 sq. ft. |
| Levis | 1.1 % | $13.33 sq. ft. |
| Q3-2012 | |
|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 31,661 $ (+2.2%) |
| Quebec (province) | 27,420 $ (+1.4%) |
| Canada | 30,914 $ (+1.8%) |
| Q3-2012 | |
|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 42,296 $ (+2.2%) |
| Quebec (province) | 39,737 $ (+2.4%) |
| Canada | 45,663 $ (+2.6%) |
| Q3-2012 | Q2-2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| Quebec (province) | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| Canada | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Q3-2012 | Q2-2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 13.2 (+2.3%) | 13.0 (+2.1%) |
| Quebec (province) | 103.7 (+1.0%) | 102.4 (+0.9%) |
| 2012 | 2031p | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 769,639 (+6.3 % vs 2006) | 824,094 (+7.1 % vs 2012) |
| Quebec (province) | 8,054,756 (+5.5% vs 2006) | 8,838,257 (+9.7% vs 2012) |
| 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 444,500 (+0.3% vs 2011) |
| Quebec (province) | 4,330,500 (+0.8 % vs 2011) |
| Q4-2012 | 1,508 (+9.4%) |
| Q3-2012 | 1,161 (-1.5%) |
| Q2-2012 | 2,210 (+24.4%) |
| Q1-2012 | 803 (-27,7 %) |
| October 2012 | October 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City CMA | 2.0 % | 1.6 % |
| Quebec (province) | 2.2% | 2.4% |
