The migratory balance for Nova Scotia improved from 2007/2008 to 2008/2009. In 2008/2009 there were slightly fewer in-migrants (15,500) compared to 2007/2008 (16,000) but during this same time period the number of out-migrants also dropped (from 17,800 to 16,200). Nova Scotia had its largest migratory exchange with Alberta and although the flows remained in Alberta's favour there was less out-migration to Alberta in 2008/2009 (4,500) compared to 2007/2008 (5,100). In-migration to Nova Scotia from the western province remained fairly stable over the two years (3,600 in 2007/2008 and 3,400 in 2008/2009). The balance of Nova Scotia's exchange with Ontario changed from negative in 2007/2008 to positive in 2008/2009 given that close to 5,500 people left Nova Scotia for Ontario in 2007/2008 falling to 4,900 in 2008/2009 while 5,200 people arrived in Nova Scotia from the most populous province in each year.

Although more people left Quebec than arrived in both 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, the deficit was lower in 2008/2009 largely due to reduced out-flows of migrants. A similar number of migrants arrived in Quebec from other provinces and territories in both 2007/2008 (20,100) and 2008/2009 (20,300) whereas out-migration fell from 31,800 to 27,700. Quebec's migratory exchanges were primarily in the direction of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, however, migratory balances generally improved over this period resulting in fewer losses for Quebec. Out-migration from Quebec to Ontario fell from 17,200 in 2007/2008 to 15,600 in 2008/2009 while in-migration from Ontario also decreased slightly (from 12,200 to 11,900). In the case of Quebec's migratory exchange with Alberta, the number of Quebec residents leaving for Alberta dropped from 7,500 in 2007/2008 to 5,600 in 2008/2009, combined with an increase in the flow of in-migrants from Alberta from 2,100 to 2,700. Migratory exchanges between Quebec and British Columbia changed little from 2007/2008 to 2008/2009.

Negative net interprovincial migration was observed for Nova Scotia during the years between 2003/2004 and 2008/2009, reaching -4,100 in 2006/2007 but with fewer net losses in the two most recent years (-1,800 in 2007/2008 and -800 in 2008/2009).

In Quebec, there was negative net interprovincial migration in 2008/2009 (-7,400) which has been the case since 1971/1972. The net loss, however, was much lower than in 2007/2008 (-11,700) and 2006/2007 (-12,900). Peak negative net migration occurred in Quebec in 1977/1978, a period of political instability in the province, when 46,400 more people left Quebec for elsewhere in Canada than entered. Since 1971/1972, 528,100 more people left the province of Quebec than entered it, the largest net loss of any province or territory resulting from interprovincial migration.