Abstract
<jats:p>In recent decades, rural Canada has faced significant demographic challenges, particularly in the aging and decline of its population. These demographic trends are leading to social, economic and political changes within these communities. Regardless of the cause, a decline in a community’s population will invariably bring about budgetary consequences. The tax base, i.e., the number of its taxpayers, decreases, which reduces the community’s ability to fund its fixed costs and maintain its infrastructure. In this article, the authors analyze the relationship between the movement of immigrants to non-metropolitan areas in Canada and the income distribution in these regions. Using data from Canadian censuses, they show that the settlement of immigrants in non-metropolitan regions contributes to an increase in their average income and a reduction in income inequality within this group.</jats:p>