Jump to content

Ontario: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted to revision 235654818 by Mindmatrix. (TW)
← Replaced content with 'Fuck Les Ontarien'
Line 1: Line 1:
Fuck Les Ontarien
{{otheruses1|the Canadian province}}
{{Infobox Province or territory of Canada
| Name = Ontario
| AlternateName =
| Fullname = Province of Ontario
| EntityAdjective = Provincial
| Flag = Flag of Ontario.svg|100px
| CoatOfArms =Coat of Arms of Ontario.png|200px
| Map = Ontario-map.png
| Label_map = no
| Motto = ''Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet'' ([[Latin]])<br><small>(Translation: "Loyal she began, loyal she remains")</small>
| OfficialLang = [[English language|English]] (''[[de facto]]'')
| Flower = [[Trillium grandiflorum|White Trillium]]
| Slogan = [[Yours To Discover]]
| Tree = [[Eastern White Pine]]
| Bird = [[Common Loon]]
| Capital = [[Toronto]]
| LargestCity = Toronto
| LargestMetro = [[Greater Toronto Area]]
| Premier = [[Dalton McGuinty]]
| PremierParty = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]
| Viceroy = [[David C. Onley]]
| ViceroyType = Lieutenant-Governor
| PostalAbbreviation = ON
| PostalCodePrefix = [[List of K Postal Codes of Canada|K]] [[List of L Postal Codes of Canada|L]] [[List of M Postal Codes of Canada|M]] [[List of N Postal Codes of Canada|N]] [[List of P Postal Codes of Canada|P]]
| AreaRank = 4<sup>th</sup>
| area_footnotes =
<ref name="areaont">{{cite web|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys01.htm|title=Canada's provinces and territories total area, land area and water area.|publisher=Statistics Canada|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref>
| TotalArea_km2 = 1076395
| LandArea_km2 = 917741
| WaterArea_km2 = 158654
| PercentWater = 14.8
| PopulationRank = 1<sup>st</sup>
| Population = 12,891,787 (est.) <ref>{{cite web | author= Statistics Canada|publisher= |title= Canada's population estimates 2008-06-25 |accessdate=2008-06-25 |url=http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080625/d080625b.htm}}</ref>
| PopulationYear = 2008
| DensityRank = 3<sup>rd</sup>
| Density_km2 = 13.9
| GDP_year = 2008
| GDP_total = C$597.2&nbsp;billion<ref>[http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2007/chpt2.html#secg1 Ontario Budget 2007: Chapter II<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
| GDP_rank = 1<sup>st</sup>
| GDP_per_capita = C$43,847
| GDP_per_capita_rank = 6<sup>th</sup>
| AdmittanceOrder = 1<sup>st</sup>
| AdmittanceDate = [[July 1]], [[1867]]
| TimeZone = [[UTC]]-5 & -6
| HouseSeats = 107
| SenateSeats = 24
| ISOCode = CA-ON
| Website = www.ontario.ca}}

'''Ontario''' ({{IPAEng|ɒnˈtɛri.oʊ}}) is a [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] located in the [[Central Canada|central]] part of [[Canada]], the largest by population<ref name="popont">{{cite web|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=demo02a.htm&sortact=2&sortf=6|title= Ontario is the largest province in the country by population|work=Statistics Canada|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref> and second largest, after [[Quebec]], in total area.<ref name="areaont"/> ([[Nunavut]] and the [[Northwest Territories]] are larger but are not provinces.) Ontario is bordered by the provinces of [[Manitoba]] to the west, Quebec to the east, and the [[U.S. state]]s (from west to east) of [[Minnesota]], [[Michigan]], [[Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania]] (at [[Lake Erie]]), and [[New York]]. Most of Ontario's borders with the United States are natural, starting at the [[Lake of the Woods]] and continuing through four of the [[Great Lakes]]: [[Lake Superior|Superior]], [[Lake Huron|Huron]] (which includes [[Georgian Bay]]), Erie, and [[Lake Ontario|Ontario]], then along the [[Saint Lawrence River]] near [[Cornwall, Ontario|Cornwall]]. Ontario is the only [[Canadian Province]] that borders the Great Lakes.

The capital of Ontario is [[Toronto]], the largest city in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo05a.htm|title=Toronto is Canada's largest metropolitan area|work=Statistics Canada|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref> [[Ottawa]], the capital of Canada, is located in Ontario as well. The [[Canada 2006 Census|2006 Census]] counted 12,160,282 residents in Ontario, which accounted for 38.5% of the national population.<ref name="ON2006MuniPops"/>

The province takes its name from Lake Ontario, which is thought to be derived from ''ontarí:io'', a [[Huron language|Huron]] word meaning "great lake",<ref>{{cite book|last=Mithun|first=Marianne|year=2000|title=The Languages of Native North America|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=312}}</ref> or possibly ''skanadario'' which means "beautiful water" in [[Iroquoian languages|Iroquoian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.studycanada.ca/english/about-ont.htm|pages=Last Paragraph-second last sentence|title=About Canada // Ontario|work=Study Canada|quote=Ontario's name is thought to come form the Iroquois word "Skanadario" which means "beautiful water"|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref> Along with [[New Brunswick]], [[Nova Scotia]] and Quebec, Ontario is one of the four original provinces of Canada when the nation was formed on [[July 1]], [[1867]], by the [[British North America Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/const/loireg/p1t1-1.html|title=The British North American act of 1867|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref>

Ontario is Canada's leading manufacturing province accounting for 52% of the total national manufacturing shipments in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last=Government of Ontario|title= Ontario Facts: Overview|url=http://www.2ontario.com/facts/fact01.asp|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Ontario}}
{{seealso|List of Ontario counties|Geography of Canada}}
[[Image:Canada provinces evolution.gif|thumb|left|Evolution of the borders of Ontario]]
[[Image:Niagara falls aerial.id.jpg|thumb|left|[[Niagara Falls]] is a major tourist attraction in Ontario as well as a huge supplier of [[hydroelectric energy]] for the province.]]
The province consists of four main geographical regions:
*The thinly populated [[Canadian Shield]] in the northwestern and central portions which covers over half the land area in the province; though mostly infertile land, it is rich in [[mineral]]s and studded with lakes and rivers; sub-regions are [[Northwestern Ontario]] and [[Northeastern Ontario]].
*The virtually unpopulated [[Hudson Bay]] Lowlands in the extreme north and northeast, mainly swampy and sparsely forested; and
*The temperate and therefore most populous region, the fertile Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Valley in the south where agriculture and industry are concentrated. [[Southern Ontario]] is further sub-divided into four regions; [[Southwestern Ontario]] (parts of which were formerly referred to as Western Ontario), [[Golden Horseshoe]], [[Central Ontario]] (although not actually the province's geographic centre) and [[Eastern Ontario]].
[[Image:DSCN0019.JPG|thumb|[[Bruce Peninsula]].]]

Despite the absence of any mountainous terrain in the province, there are large areas of uplands, particularly within the [[Canadian Shield]] which traverses the province from northwest to southeast and also above the [[Niagara Escarpment]] which crosses the south. The highest point is [[Ishpatina Ridge]] at {{convert|693|m|ft}} [[above mean sea level|above sea level]] located in [[Temagami, Ontario|Temagami, Northeastern Ontario]].

The [[Carolinian forest]] zone covers most of the southwestern section, its northern extent is part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]] at the western end of Lake Ontario. The most well-known geographic feature is [[Niagara Falls]], part of the much more extensive Niagara Escarpment. The [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] allows navigation to and from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] as far inland as [[Thunder Bay, Ontario|Thunder Bay]] in Northwestern Ontario. [[Northern Ontario]] occupies roughly 85% of the surface area of the province; conversely [[Southern Ontario]] contains 94% of the population.

[[Point Pelee National Park]] is a peninsula in southwestern Ontario (near [[Windsor, Ontario]] and [[Detroit, Michigan]]) that extends into Lake Erie and is the southernmost extent of Canada's mainland. [[Pelee, Ontario|Pelee Island]] and [[Middle Island (Lake Erie)|Middle Island]] in Lake Erie extend slightly farther. All are south of 42°N – slightly farther south than the northern border of [[California]].

===Territorial evolution===
Land was not legally subdivided into administrative units until a treaty had been concluded with the [[Royal Proclamation of 1763|native peoples ceding the land]]. In 1788, while part of the [[Province of Quebec (1763-1791)]], southern Ontario was divided into four [[districts]]: [[Western District, Upper Canada|Hesse]], [[Eastern District, Upper Canada|Lunenburg]], [[Midland District, Upper Canada|Mecklenburg]], and [[Home District|Nassau]].

In 1792, the four districts were renamed: Hesse became the Western District, Lunenburg became the Eastern District, Mecklenburg became the Midland District, and Nassau became the Home District. Counties were created within the districts.

By 1798, there were eight districts: Eastern, Home, [[Johnstown District, Upper Canada|Johnstown]], [[London District, Upper Canada|London]], Midland, [[Newcastle District, Upper Canada|Newcastle]], [[Niagara District, Upper Canada|Niagara]], and Western.

By 1826, there were eleven districts: [[Bathurst District, Upper Canada|Bathurst]], Eastern, [[Gore District, Upper Canada|Gore]], Home, Johnstown, London, Midland, Newcastle, Niagara, [[Ottawa District, Upper Canada|Ottawa]], and Western.

By 1838, there were twenty districts: Bathurst, [[Brock District, Upper Canada|Brock]], [[Colbourne District, Upper Canada|Colbourne]], [[Dalhousie District, Upper Canada|Dalhousie]], Eastern, Gore, Home, [[Huron District, Upper Canada|Huron]], Johnstown, London, Midland, Newcastle, Niagara, Ottawa, [[Prince Edward District, Upper Canada|Prince Edward]], [[Simcoe District, Ontario|Simcoe]], [[Talbot District, Upper Canada|Talbot]], [[Victoria District, Upper Canada|Victoria]], [[Wellington District, Upper Canada|Wellington]], and Western.

In 1849, the districts of southern Ontario were abolished by the [[Province of Canada]], and [[county]] governments took over certain municipal responsibilities. The Province of Canada also began creating ''districts'' in sparsely populated Northern Ontario with the establishment of [[Algoma District, Ontario|Algoma District]] and [[Nipissing District, Ontario|Nipissing District]] in 1858.

The northern and western boundaries of Ontario were in dispute after [[Confederation]]. Ontario's right to Northwestern Ontario was determined by the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]] in 1884 and confirmed by the ''Canada (Ontario Boundary) Act, 1889'' of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. By 1899, there were seven northern districts: Algoma, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay. Four more northern districts were created between 1907 and 1912: Cochrane, Kenora, Sudbury and Timiskaming.
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Early Districts and Counties 1788-1899|publisher=Archives of Ontario|date=[[2006-09-05]]|accessdate=2006-11-29|url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/maps/districts.htm}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{seealso|Environment Canada}}
[[Image:Lake Ontario - Sandbanks Provincial Park 2001.jpg|thumb|Enjoying summer at [[Sandbanks Provincial Park]] on Lake Ontario.]]
Ontario has three main climatic regions. Most of Southwestern Ontario, the cities of Windsor, London and the southern half of the Golden Horseshoe region including Hamilton, Niagara and the city of Toronto, have a moderate [[humid continental climate]] ([[Koppen climate classification]] ''Dfa''), similar to that of the inland [[Mid-Atlantic States]] and the lower Great Lakes portion of the [[Midwestern United States]]. The region has warm, humid summers and cold winters. Extreme heat and cold can occur for usually short periods. It is considered a temperate climate when compared with most of Canada. In the summer, the air masses often come out of the [[southern United States]], as the stronger the Bermuda High Pressure ridges into the North American continent, the more warm, humid air is drawn northward from the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Particularly in the fall and winter, temperatures are moderated by the waters of the Great Lakes, making it considerably milder than the rest of the province and allowing for a longer growing season than areas at similar latitudes in the continent's interior. Both spring and fall are generally pleasantly mild, with cool nights. Annual precipitation ranges from 75-100 centimetres (30-40 in) and is well distributed throughout the year with a summer peak. Most of this region lies in the lee of the Great Lakes making for abundant snow in some areas while others receive less snow than most of Canada because of the shorter, milder winter.
[[Image:LondonOntarioSkyline.jpg|thumb|The Thames river in [[London, Ontario]].]]

The second climatic zone covers the northern half of Southern Ontario, including the northern portion of the [[Golden Horseshoe]], [[Central Ontario|Central]], [[Eastern Ontario]] (includes Ottawa) and the southern reaches of Northern Ontario, including the cities of [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]] and [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], have a more severe humid continental climate (Koppen ''Dfb''). This region has warm and sometimes hot summers (although shorter in length than Southwestern Ontario) with cold, longer winters with roughly equal annual precipation to the south. The southern part of this zone lies on the windward side of Lake Huron. Here in winter, the open lakes frequently result in heavy [[lake effect snow]] squalls that affect much of the Georgian Bay shoreline including [[Killarney, Ontario|Killarney]], [[Parry Sound District, Ontario|Parry Sound]], [[Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario|Muskoka]] and [[Simcoe County, Ontario|Simcoe County]]; also affected is the Lake Huron shore from [[Sarnia, Ontario|Sarnia]] northward to the [[Bruce Peninsula]], sometimes reaching inland to [[London, Ontario|London]]. Wind-whipped snow squalls can reach areas as far as 100 kilometres (60&nbsp;mi) or greater from the shore when surface winds are strong, but the heaviest snows usually fall within 20 kilometres (12&nbsp;mi) from the shoreline. Some snowbelt areas receive an annual average of well over 300 centimetres (120 in) of snow, allowing for excellent winter recreation conditions.

The northernmost parts of Ontario&mdash;primarily north of 50°N&mdash;have a [[subarctic climate]] (Koppen ''Dfc'') with long, very cold winters and short, cool to warm summers and dramatic temperature changes. In summer, hot weather occasionally reaches even the northernmost parts of Ontario, although humidity is generally lower than in the south. With no major mountain ranges blocking Arctic air masses, winters are very cold, especially in the far north and northwest where temperatures below -40 °C (-40 °F) are not uncommon. The snow stays on the ground much longer in the region as opposed to any other regions of Ontario; snow cover is usually present between October and May.

Severe and non-severe [[thunderstorm]]s peak in frequency from June through August when Ontario becomes an active thunderstorm zone, due to the median position of the continental storm track. In Southern Ontario they can occur at any time from March to November because of the frequent collision of colder, Arctic air and warm, moist Gulf air. In summer, isolated or cluster type thunderstorms also form from daytime convective heating. One severe type of thunderstorm is known as a [[Derecho]], which is a larger cluster-type thunderstorm mass, often occurring nocturnally and with great forward motion, bringing severe straight-line winds over wide areas. These storms usually develop along stationary frontal boundaries during hot weather periods and can occur in most areas of the province spanning great distances. Only the Hudson/James Bay Lowlands region rarely experience one. The areas with the highest severe weather frequency in the province are extreme Southwestern (Windsor, Chatham) and Central Ontario (Simcoe County), both areas have storms sometimes accentuated by the localized [[Lake Breeze Front]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lake Breeze Weather|first=Keith C.|last=Heidorn|date=[[2005-11-01]]|accessdate=2006-11-29|publisher=The Weather Doctor|url=http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/elements/lakebreezewx.htm}}</ref> [[London, Ontario|London]] has the most lightning strikes per year in Canada and is also one of the most active areas in the country for storms. In typical year, Ontario averages 20 or more confirmed [[tornado]] touchdowns, with the highest frequency in southwestern Ontario and near [[Lake Simcoe]]. They are rarely destructive (the vast majority are classified as '''F0''' or '''F1''' on the [[Fujita Scale]]). In Northern Ontario, some tornadoes go undetected by ground spotters because of the sparse population and remote landscape; they are often discovered after the fact by aircraft pilots, where aerial observations of destroyed forest confirm occurrences.

==History==
{{seealso|History of Canada|Timeline of Ontario history}}
===European contact===
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the region was inhabited both by [[Algonquian]] ([[Ojibwa]], [[Cree]] and [[Algonquin]]) and [[Iroquoian]] ([[Iroquois]] and [[Huron]]) tribes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=EC001034|title=About Ontario; History: Government of Ontario|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref> The French explorer [[Étienne Brûlé]] explored part of the area in 1610-12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9016763/Etienne-Brule|title= Étienne Brûlé's article on Encyclopædia Britannica|work=Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref> The English explorer [[Henry Hudson]] sailed into Hudson Bay in 1611 and claimed the area for [[England]], but [[Samuel de Champlain]] reached Lake Huron in 1615, and [[France|French]] missionaries began to establish posts along the Great Lakes. French settlement was hampered by their hostilities with the Iroquois, who allied themselves with the British.<ref name="thefrenchshouldvewon">{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=004520|title=About Ontario; History; French and British Struggle for Domination|work=Government of Ontario|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref>
[[Image:UnitedEmpireLoyalistsHamilton.JPG|left|thumb|center|United Empire Loyalists statue, [[Main Street (Hamilton, Ontario)|Main Street East]], Hamilton, Ontario]]
The British established trading posts on Hudson Bay in the late 17th century and began a struggle for domination of Ontario. The [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|1763 Treaty of Paris]] ended the [[Seven Years' War]] by awarding nearly all of [[French colonization of the Americas|France's North American possessions]] ([[New France]]) to Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_%281763%29|title=The Treaty of Paris (1763)|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</ref> The region was annexed to [[Quebec]] in 1774.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/PreConfederation/qa_1774.html|title=The Quebec Act of 1774|accessdate=2007-01-15}}</ref> From 1783 to 1796, the [[United Kingdom]] granted [[United Empire Loyalists]] leaving the United States following the [[American Revolution]] 200 acres (0.8 km²) of land and other items with which to rebuild their lives.<ref name="thefrenchshouldvewon"/> This measure substantially increased the population of Canada west of the St. Lawrence-Ottawa River confluence during this period, a fact recognized by the Constitutional Act of 1791, which split Quebec into [[The Canadas]]: [[Upper Canada]] southwest of the St. Lawrence-Ottawa River confluence, and [[Lower Canada]] east of it. [[John Graves Simcoe]] was appointed Upper Canada's first [[Lieutenant-Governor]] in 1793.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~sprague/con91.htm|title=The Constitutional Act of 1791|accessdate=2007-01-15}}</ref>

American troops in the [[War of 1812]] invaded Upper Canada across the Niagara River and the [[Detroit River]] but were defeated and pushed back by British regulars, Canadian militias, and [[First Nations of Canada|First Nations]] warriors. The Americans gained control of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, however, and during the [[Battle of York]] occupied the [[York, Upper Canada|Town of York]] (later named Toronto) in 1813. The Americans looted the town and burned the Parliament Buildings but were soon forced to leave.

After the War of 1812, relative stability allowed for increasing numbers of immigrants to arrive from Britain and [[Ireland]] rather than from the United States. As was the case in the previous decades, this deliberate immigration shift was encouraged by the colonial leaders. Despite affordable and often free land, many arriving newcomers from Europe (mostly from Britain and Ireland) found frontier life with the harsh climate difficult, and some of those with the means eventually returned home or went south. However, population growth far exceeded emigration in the decades that followed. Still, a mostly agrarian-based society, canal projects and a new network of plank roads spurred greater trade within the colony and with the United States, thereby improving relations over time.

Meanwhile, Ontario's numerous waterways aided travel and transportation into the interior and supplied water power for development. As the population increased, so did the industries and transportation networks, which in turn led to further development. By the end of the century, Ontario vied with Quebec as the nation's leader in terms of growth in population, industry, arts and communications.<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/026018-119.01-e.php?q1=People&PHPSESSID=709io6475tfesngi2m7226o454 Virtual Vault], an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada</ref>

Many in the colony, however, began to chafe against the aristocratic [[Family Compact]] that governed while benefiting economically from the regions resources, and who did not allow elected bodies the power to effect change (much as the [[Château Clique]] ruled Lower Canada). This resentment spurred republican ideals and sowed the seeds for early Canadian nationalism. Accordingly, rebellion in favour of [[responsible government]] rose in both regions; [[Louis-Joseph Papineau]] led the [[Lower Canada Rebellion]] and [[William Lyon Mackenzie]] led the [[Upper Canada Rebellion]].

Although both rebellions were put down in short order, the British government sent [[John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham|Lord Durham]] to investigate the causes of the unrest. He recommended that self-government be granted and that Lower and Upper Canada be re-joined in an attempt to assimilate the [[French Canadians]]. Accordingly, the two colonies were merged into the [[Province of Canada]] by the ''[[Act of Union (1840)]]'', with the capital at Kingston, and Upper Canada becoming known as [[Canada West]]. [[Parliament]]ary [[self-government]] was granted in 1848. There were heavy waves of immigration in the 1840s, and the population of Canada West more than doubled by 1851 over the previous decade. As a result for the first time the English-speaking population of Canada West surpassed the French-speaking population of Canada East, tilting the representative balance of power.

An economic boom in the 1850s coincided with railway expansion across the province further increasing the economic strength of Central Canada.

A political stalemate between the French- and English-speaking legislators, as well as fear of aggression from the United States during the [[American Civil War]], led the political elite to hold a series of conferences in the 1860s to effect a broader federal union of all British North American colonies. The ''[[British North America Act]]'' took effect on [[July 1]], [[1867]], establishing the Dominion of Canada, initially with four provinces: [[Nova Scotia]], [[New Brunswick]], Quebec and Ontario. The [[Province of Canada]] was divided into Ontario and Quebec so that each linguistic group would have its own province. Both Quebec and Ontario were required by section 93 of the BNA Act to safeguard existing educational rights and privileges of the Protestant and Catholic minorities. Thus, separate Catholic schools and [[Board of education|school boards]] were permitted in Ontario. However, neither province had a constitutional requirement to protect its French- or English-speaking minority. Toronto was formally established as Ontario's provincial capital.

===Province of Ontario===
Once constituted as a province, Ontario proceeded to assert its economic and legislative power. In 1872, the lawyer [[Oliver Mowat]] became premier and remained as premier until 1896. He fought for provincial rights, weakening the power of the federal government in provincial matters, usually through well-argued appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]]. His battles with the federal government greatly decentralized Canada, giving the provinces far more power than [[John A. Macdonald]] had intended. He consolidated and expanded Ontario's educational and provincial institutions, created districts in Northern Ontario, and fought to ensure that those parts of Northwestern Ontario not historically part of Upper Canada (the vast areas north and west of the Lake Superior-Hudson Bay watershed, known as the [[District of Keewatin]]) would become part of Ontario, a victory embodied in the ''Canada (Ontario Boundary) Act, 1889''. He also presided over the emergence of the province into the economic powerhouse of Canada. Mowat was the creator of what is often called ''Empire Ontario''.

Beginning with Sir John A. Macdonald's National Policy (1879) and the construction of the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (1875-1885) through Northern Ontario and the [[Canadian Prairies]] to [[British Columbia]], Ontario manufacturing and industry flourished. However, population increase slowed after a large recession hit the province in 1893, thus slowing growth drastically but only for a few short years. Many newly arrived immigrants and others moved west along the railroad to the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia.

[[Mineral]] exploitation accelerated in the late 19th century, leading to the rise of important mining centres in the northeast like [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Cobalt, Ontario|Cobalt]] and [[Timmins, Ontario|Timmins]]. The province harnessed its water power to generate hydro-electric power and created the state-controlled [[Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario]], later [[Ontario Hydro]]. The availability of cheap electric power further facilitated the development of industry. The Ford Motor Company of Canada was established in 1904. [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] of Canada Ltd. was formed in 1918. The motor vehicle industry would go on to become the most lucrative industry for the Ontario economy.

In July 1912, the Conservative government of Sir [[James P. Whitney]] issued [[Regulation 17]] which severely limited the availability of French-language schooling to the province's French-speaking minority. French-Canadians reacted with outrage, journalist [[Henri Bourassa]] denouncing the "Prussians of Ontario". It was eventually repealed in 1927.

Influenced by events in the United States, the government of Sir [[William Howard Hearst|William Hearst]] introduced [[prohibition]] of alcoholic drinks in 1916 with the passing of the [[Ontario Temperance Act]]. However, residents could distill and retain their own personal supply, and liquor producers could continue distillation and export for sale, which allowed Ontario to become a hotbed for the illegal smuggling of liquor into the United States, which was under complete prohibition. Prohibition came to an end in 1927 with the establishment of the [[Liquor Control Board of Ontario]] by the government of [[George Howard Ferguson]]. The sale and consumption of liquor, wine, and beer are still controlled by some of the most extreme laws in North America to ensure that strict community standards and revenue generation from the alcohol retail monopoly are upheld. In April 2007, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament [[Kim Craitor]] suggested that local brewers should be able to sell their beer in local corner stores; however, the motion was quickly rejected by Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]].

The post-[[World War II]] period was one of exceptional prosperity and growth. Ontario, and the [[Greater Toronto Area]] in particular, have been the recipients of most immigration to Canada, largely immigrants from war-torn Europe in the 1950s and 1960s and after changes in federal [[immigration law]], a massive influx of non-Europeans since the 1970s. From a largely [[Ethnicity|ethnically]] British province, Ontario has rapidly become very culturally diverse.

The nationalist movement in Quebec, particularly after the election of the ''[[Parti Québécois]]'' in 1976, contributed to driving many businesses and English-speaking people out of Quebec to Ontario, and as a result Toronto surpassed Montreal as the largest city and economic centre of Canada. Depressed economic conditions in the [[Atlantic Canada|Maritime Provinces]] have also resulted in de-population of those provinces in the 20th century, with heavy migration into Ontario.

Ontario has no official language, but [[English language|English]] is considered the ''de facto'' language. Numerous [[French language]] services are available under the [[French Language Services Act]] of 1990 in designated areas where sizable [[francophone]] populations exist.

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Ontario}}
===Population since 1851===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Population
!Five-year<br/>% change
!Ten-year<br/>% change
!Rank among<br/>provinces
|-
|1851 ||952,004 || n/a || 208.8 || 1
|-
|1861 ||1,396,091 ||n/a ||46.6 ||1
|-
|1871 ||1,620,851 ||n/a ||16.1 ||1
|-
|1881 ||1,926,922 ||n/a ||18.9 ||1
|-
|1891 ||2,114,321 ||n/a ||9.7 ||1
|-
|1901 ||2,182,947 ||n/a ||3.2 ||1
|-
|1911 ||2,527,292 ||n/a ||15.8 ||1
|-
|1921 ||2,933,662 ||n/a ||16.1 ||1
|-
|1931 ||3,431,683 ||n/a ||17.0 ||1
|-
|1941 ||3,787,655 ||n/a ||10.3 ||1
|-
|1951 ||4,597,542 ||n/a ||21.4 ||1
|-
|1956 ||5,404,933 ||17.6 ||n/a ||1
|-
|1961 ||6,236,092 ||15.4 ||35.6 ||1
|-
|1966 ||6,960,870 ||11.6 ||28.8 ||1
|-http://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Ontario&action=edit&section=3
|1971 ||7,703,105 ||10.7 ||23.5 ||1
|-
|1976 ||8,264,465 ||7.3 ||18.7 ||1
|-
|1981 ||8,625,107 ||4.4 ||12.0 ||1
|-
|1986 ||9,101,695 ||5.5 ||10.1 ||1
|-
|1991 ||10,084,885 ||10.8 ||16.9 ||1
|-
|1996 ||10,753,573 ||6.6 ||18.1 ||1
|-
|2001 ||11,410,046 ||6.1 ||13.1 ||1
|-
|2006* ||12,160,282 ||6.6 ||13.1 ||1
|}
<small>''*2006 Census.<ref name="ON2006MuniPops" />''</small>
<ref>{{cite web|title=Population urban and rural, by province and territory (Ontario)|date=[[2005-09-01]]|accessdate=2006-11-29|publisher=Statistics Canada|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62g.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Canada's population|work=The Daily|date=[[2006-09-27]]|accessdate=2006-11-29|publisher=Statistics Canada|url=http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060927/d060927a.htm}}</ref><ref name="ethnocultural">{{Cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/ETO/Table1.cfm?Lang=E&T=501&GV=1&GID=35|title=Selected Ethnic Origins1, for Canada, Provinces and Territories - 20% Sample Data|publisher=Statistics Canada|accessdate=2007-12-18}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
[[Image:Visible Minorities of Ontario.png|300px|thumb|[[Visible minorities]] of Ontario in 2001.]]
{| class="wikitable"
!Ethnic
!Responses
!%
|-
|'''Total population''' ||'''11,285,545''' ||100
|-
|[[Canadian]] ||3,350,275 ||29.7
|-
|[[English-Canadian|English]] ||2,711,485 ||24
|-
|[[Scottish-Canadian|Scottish]] ||1,843,110 ||16.3
|-
|[[Irish-Canadian|Irish]] ||1,761,280 ||15.6
|-
|[[French-Canadian|French]] ||1,235,765 ||10.9
|-
|[[German-Canadian|German]] ||965,510 ||8.6
|-
|[[Italian-Canadian|Italian]] ||781,345 ||6.9
|-
|[[Chinese Canadian|Chinese]] ||518,550 ||4.6
|-
|[[Dutch Canadian|Dutch (Netherlands)]] ||436,035 ||3.9
|-
|[[Indo-Canadian|East Indian]] ||413,415 ||3.7
|-
|[[Polish-Canadian|Polish]] ||386,050 ||3.4
|-
|[[Ukrainian-Canadian|Ukrainian]] ||290,925 ||2.6
|-
|[[First Nations|North American Indian]] ||248,940 ||2.2
|-
|[[Portuguese-Canadian|Portuguese]] ||248,265 ||2.2
|-
|[[Jewish-Canadian|Jewish]] ||196,260 ||1.7
|-
|[[Jamaican Canadian|Jamaican]] ||180,810 ||1.6
|-
|[[Filipino Canadian|Filipino]] ||165,025 ||1.5
|-
|[[Spanish-Canadian|Spanish (Latin America)]] ||147,140 ||1.3
|-
|[[Welsh Canadian|Welsh]] ||142,740 ||1.3
|-
|[[Hungarian-Canadian|Hungarian (Magyar)]] ||128,575 ||1.1
|-
|[[Greek-Canadian|Greek]] ||120,635 ||1.0
|-
|[[Russian Canadian|Russian]] ||106,710 ||0.9
|-
|[[American Canadian|American (USA)]] ||86,855 ||0.8
|-
|[[Serbian-Canadian|Serbian]] ||78,230 ||0.7
|-
|[[British people|British]], not included<br/>elsewhere ||76,415 ||0.7
|-
|[[Vietnamese Canadian|Vietnamese]] ||67,450 ||0.6
|-
|[[Finnish-Canadian|Finnish]] ||64,105 ||0.6
|-
|[[Croatian-Canadian|Croatian]] ||62,325 ||0.6
|-
|[[Métis]] ||60,535 ||0.5
|-
|[[Lebanese Canadian|Lebanese]] ||59,155 ||0.5
|}
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population by selected ethnic origins, by province and territory (2001 Census) (Ontario)|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=[[2005-01-25]]|accessdate=2006-11-29|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo26g.htm Statistics Canada}}</ref><ref name="statcancomprof">{{Cite web|title=2001 Community Profiles|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=[[2006-12-14]]|accessdate=2007-01-12|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=35&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=ontario&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Statistics Canada}}</ref>
The percentages add to more than 100% because of dual responses (e.g. "French-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "French" and the category "Canadian"). Groups with greater than 200,000 responses are included. The majority of Ontarians are of British (English, Scottish, Welsh) and Irish ancestry.

The major religious groups in Ontario, as of 2001, are:<ref name="census-religion">{{cite web|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo30b.htm|title=Population by religion, by province and territory (2001 Census) (Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)|publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]|date=[[2005-01-25]]|accessdate=2006-11-07}}</ref>
[[Image:Religion in Ontario.png|thumb|300px|Religion in Ontario in 2001.<ref name="statcancomprof"/>]]

{| class="wikitable"
!Religion
!People
!%
|-
|'''Total''' ||'''11,285,535''' || '''100'''
|-
|Protestant ||3,935,745 ||34.9
|-
|Catholic ||3,911,760 ||34.7
|-
|No Religion ||1,841,290 ||16.3
|-
|Muslim ||352,530 ||3.1
|-
|Other [[Christians]] ||301,935 ||2.7
|-
|Christian Orthodox ||264,055 ||2.3
|-
|Hindu ||217,555 ||1.9
|-
|Jewish ||190,795 ||1.7
|-
|Buddhist ||128,320 ||1.1
|-
|Sikh ||104,785 ||0.9
|-
|Eastern Religions ||17,780 ||0.2
|-
|Other Religions ||18,985 ||0.2
|}
<ref name="religion">[http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=demo30b.htm&sortact=2&sortf=4 |Religious diversity information for Ontario]</ref>

The vast majority of Ontarians are of [[English Canadian|British]] or other [[White people|European descent]]. Slightly less than five percent of the population of Ontario is [[Franco-Ontarian]], that is those whose native tongue is French, although those with French ancestry account for 11% of the population.

In relation to natural increase or inter-provincial migration, [[Immigration to Canada|immigration]] is a huge population growth force in Ontario, as it has been over the last two centuries. More recent sources of [[immigrants]] with already large or growing communities in Ontario include [[Caribbean]]s ([[Jamaicans]], [[Trinidadian]]s, [[Guyana|Guyanese]]), [[South Asia]]ns (e.g. [[Pakistan]]is, [[India]]ns, [[Bangladesh]]is and [[Sri Lanka]]ns), East Asians (mostly [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] and [[Philippines|Filipinos]]), [[Central America|Central]]/South Americans (such as [[Colombians]], [[Mexicans]], [[Hondurans]], [[Argentina]]ns, and [[Ecuadorians]]), [[Eastern Europe]]ans such as [[Russians]] and [[Bosnians]], and groups from [[Somalia]], [[Iran]], and [[West Africa]]. Most populations have settled in the Greater Toronto area. A smaller number have settled in other cities such as [[London, Ontario|London]], [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]], [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Barrie, Ontario|Barrie]], and Ottawa.

==Economy==
[[Image:OneLondonPlace.JPG|thumb|left|[[One London Place]], in [[London, Ontario]], is the tallest office tower in Ontario outside of the [[Greater Toronto Area]].]]
[[Image:Toronto's CN Tower.jpg|right|thumb|The [[CN Tower]] in [[Toronto]] has the highest public observation level on Earth.]]
[[Image:Theabsolute.jpg|thumb|right|100px|[[Absolute World]] will be the tallest building outside of Toronto when it is completed in 2009 in [[Mississauga]].]]
{{Main|Economy of Ontario}}
Ontario's rivers, including its share of the [[Niagara River]], make it rich in [[hydroelectric energy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/oout_508.asp|title=Ontario is rich in hydroelectricity, especially areas near the Niagara River|work=Ontario Facts|accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref> Since the privatization of [[Ontario Hydro]] which began in 1999, [[Ontario Power Generation]] runs 85% of electricity generated in the province, of which 41% is [[nuclear power|nuclear]], 30% is [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] and 29% is [[fossil fuel]] derived. OPG is not however responsible for the transmission of power, which is under the control of [[Hydro One]]. Despite its diverse range of power options, problems related to increasing consumption, lack of energy efficiency and aging nuclear reactors, Ontario has been forced in recent years to purchase power from its neighbours [[Quebec]] and [[Michigan]] to supplement its power needs during peak consumption periods.

An abundance of natural resources, excellent transportation links to the American heartland and the inland Great Lakes making ocean access possible via ship containers, have all contributed to making [[manufacturing]] the principal [[industry]], found mainly in the Golden Horseshoe region, which is the largest industrialized area in Canada. Important products include [[motor vehicles]], [[iron]], [[steel]], food, electrical appliances, machinery, [[chemical]]s, and [[paper]]. Ontario surpassed Michigan in [[automobile|car]] production, assembling 2.696 million vehicles in 2004.

However, as a result of steeply declining sales, on [[November 21]], [[2005]], [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] announced massive layoffs at production facilities across North America including two large GM plants in [[Oshawa]] and a drive train facility in [[St. Catharines, Ontario|St. Catharines]] which by 2008 will result in 8,000 job losses in Ontario alone. Subsequently in [[January 23]], [[2006]], [[Ford Motor Company]] announced between 25,000 and 30,000 layoffs phased until 2012; Ontario was spared the worst, but job losses were announced for the [[St. Thomas, Ontario|St. Thomas]] facility and the [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] casting plant. However, these losses will be offset by Ford's recent announcement of a hybrid vehicle facility slated to begin production in 2007 at its [[Oakville, Ontario|Oakville]] plant and GM's re-introduction of the [[Camaro]] which will be produced in Oshawa. [[Toyota]] also announced plans to build a new plant in [[Woodstock, Ontario|Woodstock]] by 2008, and [[Honda]] also has plans to add an engine plant at its facility in [[Alliston, Ontario|Alliston]].

[[Image:Toronto Downtown Core at Night.jpg|thumb|left|[[Toronto]]: Ontario's capital city and Canada's largest metropolis.]]

Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the centre of Canada's financial services and banking industry. Suburban cities in the [[Greater Toronto Area]] like [[Brampton, Ontario|Brampton]], [[Mississauga]] and [[Vaughan, Ontario|Vaughan]] are large product distribution centres, in addition to having manufacturing industries. The [[information technology]] sector is also important, particularly in [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]], [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]] and Ottawa. [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] is the largest steel manufacturing city in Canada, and Sarnia is a centre for petrochemical production. [[Construction]] employs at least 7% of the work force, but because of undocumented workers, the figure is likely over 10%. This sector has thrived over the last ten years because of steadily increasing new house and condominium construction combined with low mortgage rates and climbing prices, particularly in the Greater Toronto area. [[Mining]] and the forest products industry, notably [[pulp and paper industry in Canada|pulp and paper]], are vital to the economy of Northern Ontario. More than any other region, tourism contributes heavily to the economy of Central Ontario, peaking during the summer months owing to the abundance of fresh water recreation and wilderness found there in reasonable proximity to the major urban centres. At other times of the year, [[hunting]], [[skiing]] and [[snowmobiling]] are popular. This region has some of the most vibrant fall colour displays anywhere on the continent, and tours directed at overseas visitors are organized to see them. Tourism also plays a key role in border cities with large casinos, among them Windsor, [[Rama, Ontario|Rama]], and [[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]], which attract many U.S. visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ontario|publisher=Ministry of Economic Development and Trade|accessdate=2006-11-29|url=http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/oo_000.asp}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
Once the dominant industry, [[agriculture]] occupies a small percentage of the population. The number of farms has decreased from 68,633 in 1991 to 59,728 in 2001, but farms have increased in average size, and many are becoming more mechanized. Cattle, small grains and [[dairy]] were the common types of farms in the 2001 census. The fruit, grape and vegetable growing industry is located primarily on the [[Niagara Peninsula]] and along Lake Erie, where [[tobacco]] farms are also situated. Tobacco production has decreased leading to an increase in some other new crop alternatives gaining popularity, such as [[hazelnuts]] and [[ginseng]]. The Ontario origins of [[Massey-Ferguson]] Ltd., once one of the largest farm implement [[manufacturing|manufacturers]] in the world, indicate the importance agriculture once had to the Canadian economy.

Southern Ontario's limited supply of agricultural land is going out of production at an increasing rate. Urban sprawl and farmland severances contribute to the loss of thousands of acres of productive agricultural land in Ontario each year. Over 2,000 farms and {{convert|150000|acre|km2}} of farmland in the GTA alone were lost to production in the two decades between 1976 and 1996. This loss represented approximately 18% of Ontario's Class 1 farmland being converted to urban purposes. In addition, increasing rural severances provide ever-greater interference with agricultural production.

==Transportation==
[[Image:ON 1996.jpg|150px|thumb|right|[[Vehicle registration plates of Ontario|Current Ontario licence plate]]]]
Historically, the province has used two major east-west routes, both starting from [[Montreal]] in the neighbouring province of Quebec. The northerly route, which was pioneered by early French-speaking fur traders, travels northwest from Montreal along the [[Ottawa River]], then continues westward towards [[Manitoba]]. Major cities on or near the route include Ottawa, [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], [[Sudbury, Ontario|Sudbury]], [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario|Sault Ste. Marie]], and [[Thunder Bay, Ontario|Thunder Bay]]. The much more heavily travelled southerly route, which was driven by growth in predominantly English-speaking settlements originated by the [[United Empire Loyalists]] and later other [[European ethnic groups|European]] immigrants, travels southwest from Montreal along the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie before entering the United States in Michigan. Major cities on or near the route include [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]], [[Oshawa, Ontario|Oshawa]], Toronto, [[Mississauga]], [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener/Waterloo]], London, Sarnia, and Windsor. Most of Ontario's major transportation infrastructure is oriented east-west and roughly follows one of these two original routes.

===Roads===
{{Main|Roads in Ontario}}
[[Image:401atDVP.jpg|thumb|right|[[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]], running 817.9 km east/northeast from Windsor to the Quebec border is one of the busiest highways in the world.<ref name=Ontario/><ref name=Highway/>]]
[[400-series highways (Ontario)|400-Series Highways]] make up the primary vehicular network in the south of province, and they connect to numerous border crossings with the U.S., the busiest being the [[Detroit-Windsor Tunnel]] and [[Ambassador Bridge]] (via [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]]) and the [[Blue Water Bridge]] (via [[Highway 402 (Ontario)|Highway 402]]). The primary highway along the southern route is [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]], the busiest highway in North America<ref name=Ontario>{{cite web | title=Ontario government investing $401 million to upgrade Highway 401 | url=http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2002/08/06/c0057.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html | accessdate=2006-12-20 | date=[[6 August]] [[2002]] | author=Ministry of Transportation (Ontario) }}</ref><ref name=Highway>{{cite web
| url = http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3459
| title = GTA Economy Dinged by Every Crash on the 401 - North America's Busiest Freeway
| author = Brian Gray
| publisher = ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', transcribed at Urban Planet
| date = [[2004-04-10]]
| accessdate = 2007-03-18
| quote = The "phenomenal" number of vehicles on Hwy. 401 as it cuts through Toronto makes it the busiest freeway in North America...
}}</ref> and the backbone of Ontario's road network, tourism, and economy,<ref name=Ontario/><ref name=Highway/> while the primary highway across the northern route is [[Highway 417 (Ontario)|Highway 417]] /[[Highway 17 (Ontario)|Highway 17]], part of the [[Trans-Canada Highway]]. [[Highway 400 (Ontario)|Highway 400]]/[[Highway 69 (Ontario)|Highway 69]] connects Toronto to Northern Ontario. Other [[List of Ontario provincial highways|provincial highways]] and regional roads inter-connect the remainder of the province.

===Waterways===
The [[St. Lawrence Seaway]], which extends across most of the southern portion of the province and connects to the [[Atlantic Ocean]], is the primary water transportation route for cargo, particularly iron ore and grain. In the past, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River were also a major passenger transportation route, but over the past half century they have been nearly totally supplanted by vehicle, rail, and air travel. There was previously a ferry connecting Toronto with [[Rochester, New York]].

===Railways===
[[Image:otrain.jpg|thumb|The [[O-Train]], Ottawa's [[light rail]] train system (LRT).]]
[[Via Rail]] operates the inter-regional passenger train service on the [[Quebec City-Windsor Corridor]], along with "The Canadian", a transcontinental rail service from Toronto to [[Vancouver]]. Additionally, [[Amtrak]] rail connects Ontario with key New York cities including [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], [[Albany, New York|Albany]], and [[New York City]]. [[Ontario Northland]] provides rail service to destinations as far north as [[Moosonee, Ontario|Moosonee]] near [[James Bay]], connecting them with the south.

[[Freight train|Freight rail]] is dominated by the founding cross-country [[Canadian National Railway]] and [[CP Rail]] companies, which during the 1990s sold many [[Short-line railroad|short rail lines]] from their vast network to private companies operating mostly in the south.

Regional [[commuter rail]] is limited to the provincially owned [[GO Transit]], which serves a train/bus network spanning the Golden Horseshoe region, with its hub in Toronto.

The [[Toronto Transit Commission]] operates the province's only [[Rapid transit|subway]] and [[streetcar]] system, one of the busiest in North America. Outside of Toronto, the [[O-Train]] [[Light rail]] line operates in Ottawa with expansion of the line and proposals for additional lines.

===Air travel===
[[Lester B. Pearson International Airport]] is the [[Canada's busiest airport|nation's busiest]] and the world's 29th busiest, handling over 30 million passengers per year. Other important airports include [[Ottawa International Airport]] and Hamilton's [[John C. Munro International Airport]], which is an important courier and freight aviation centre. Toronto/Pearson and Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier form two of the three points in [[Air Canada]]'s Rapidair triangle, Canada's busiest set of air routes (the third point is [[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]). [[WestJet]] also operates many flights in the triangle. A third and new airline, [[Porter Airlines]] recently made [[Toronto City Centre Airport]] their hub.

Most Ontario cities have regional airports, many of which have scheduled commuter flights from [[Air Canada Jazz]] or smaller airlines and charter companies&mdash;flights from the larger cities such as Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], [[Timmins, Ontario|Timmins]], Windsor, London, and [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] feed directly into Toronto Pearson. [[Bearskin Airlines]] also runs flights along the northerly east-west route, connecting Ottawa, North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay directly without requiring connections at Toronto Pearson.
Isolated towns and settlements in the northern areas of the province rely partly or entirely on [[general aviation|air service]] for travel, goods, and even ambulance services, since much of the far northern area of the province cannot be reached by road or rail.

==Government==
[[Image:Ontario2007.gif|thumb|left|The wordmark of the Government of Ontario, featuring a stylized version of the provincial flower, the trillium. This wordmark was introduced in late 2007.]]
[[Image:Ontario-wordmark.svg|thumb|left|The previous wordmark of the Government of Ontario, which was in use from the late-1960s until 2007 (not counting the lettering used here).]]
[[Image:Ontario Legislative Assembly, Toronto, May 2006.jpg|thumb|The [[Ontario Legislature]] at [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park.]]]]
The ''[[British North America Act]] 1867'' section 69 stipulated "There shall be a Legislature for Ontario consisting of the [[Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)|Lieutenant Governor]] and of One House, styled the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]." The assembly has 107 seats representing [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]]s elected in a [[first-past-the-post]] system across the province. The legislative buildings at [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]] in Toronto are the seat of government. Following the [[Westminster system]], the leader of the party holding the most seats in the assembly is known as the "[[Premier of Ontario|Premier and President of the Council]]" (Executive Council Act R.S.O. 1990). The Premier chooses the [[cabinet]] or [[Executive Council of Ontario|Executive Council]] whose members are deemed "ministers of the Crown." Although the ''Legislative Assembly Act (R.S.O. 1990)'' refers to ''members of the assembly'', the legislators are now commonly called MPPs (''Members of the Provincial Parliament'') in English and ''députés de l'Assemblée législative'' in French, but they have also been called MLAs (''Members of the Legislative Assembly''), and both are acceptable. The title of ''Prime Minister of Ontario'', while permissible in English and correct in French (''le Premier ministre''), is generally avoided in favour of "Premier" to avoid confusion with the Prime Minister of Canada.
{{See|Monarchy in Ontario|Executive Council of Ontario}}

===Politics===
{{main|Politics of Ontario}}
Ontario has traditionally operated under a three-party system. In the last few decades the liberal [[Ontario Liberal Party]], conservative [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]], and social-democratic [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] have all ruled the province at different times.

Ontario is currently under a [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] government headed by Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]]. The present government, first elected in 2003, [[Ontario general election, 2007|was re-elected]] on [[10 October]], [[2007]].

Federally, Ontario is known as being the province that offers the strongest support for the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. The majority of the party's present 106 seats in the [[Canadian House of Commons]] represent Ontario ridings. As the province has the most seats of any province in Canada, earning support from Ontario voters is considered a crucial matter for any party hoping to win a [[Canadian federal election]].

==Urban areas==
===Census Metropolitan Areas===
{{seealso|Golden Horseshoe|Windsor-Detroit}}
Statistics Canada's measure of a "metro area", the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), roughly bundles together population figures from the core municipality with those from "commuter" municipalities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population of census metropolitan areas (2001 Census boundaries) (number)|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=[[2006-06-12]]|accessdate=2006-11-29|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=demo05a.htm&sortact=2&sortf=6 Statistics Canada}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!CMA (largest other included municipalities in brackets)
!2006
!2001
|-
|[[Toronto]] CMA (Region of Peel, Region of York, City of Pickering)
|5,813,149
|4,682,897
|-
|[[Ottawa|Ottawa–Gatineau]] CMA (Clarence-Rockland, Russell Township)<nowiki>*</nowiki>
|1,130,761<nowiki>*</nowiki>
|1,067,800<nowiki>*</nowiki>
|-
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] CMA (Burlington, Grimsby)
|692,911
|662,401
|-
|[[London, Ontario|London]] CMA (St. Thomas, Strathroy-Caradoc)
|457,720
|435,600
|-
|[[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]] CMA (Cambridge, Waterloo)
|451,235
|414,284
|-
|[[St. Catharines]]–Niagara CMA (Niagara Falls, Welland)
|390,317
|377,009
|-
|[[Oshawa]] CMA (Whitby, Clarington)
|330,594
|296,298
|-
|[[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] CMA (Lakeshore, LaSalle)
|323,342
|307,877
|-
|[[Barrie, Ontario|Barrie]] CA (Innisfil, Springwater)
|177,061
|148,480
|-
|[[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]] CMA (Whitefish Lake & Wanapitei Reserves)
|158,258
|155,601
|-
|[[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] CMA
|152,358
|146,838
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Parts of Quebec (including [[Gatineau]]) are included in the Ottawa CMA. The entire population of the Ottawa CMA, in both provinces, is shown. Clarence-Rockland and Russell Township are not the second and third largest municipalities in the entire CMA, they are the largest municipalities in the Ontario section of the CMA.

===Municipalities===
;Ten largest municipalities by population<ref name="ON2006MuniPops"> {{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=302&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=25&PR=35 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data| work=[[Statistics Canada]], 2006 Census of Population| date=[[2007-03-13]]| accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!Municipality
!2006
!2001
!1996
|-
|[[Toronto]] (provincial capital)
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|2503281}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|2481494}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|2385421}}
|-
|[[Ottawa]] (national capital)
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|812129}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|774072}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|721136}}
|-
|[[Mississauga]] (part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]])
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|668549}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|612925}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|544382}}
|-
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|504559}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|490268}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|467799}}
|-
|[[Brampton, Ontario|Brampton]] (part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]])
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|433806}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|325428}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|268251}}
|-
|[[London, Ontario|London]]
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|352395}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|336539}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|325669}}
|-
|[[Markham, Ontario|Markham]] (part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]])
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|261573}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|208615}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|173383}}
|-
|[[Vaughan, Ontario|Vaughan]] (part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]])
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|238866}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|182022}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|132549}}
|-
|[[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]]
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|216473}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|209218}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|197694}}
|-
|[[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]]
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|204668}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|190399}}
| style="text-align: right;" |{{nts|178420}}
|-
|}

==Songs and Slogans==
In 1967, in conjunction with the celebration of [[Canadian Centennial|Canada's centennial]], the song "[[Expo 67#Theme songs|A Place to Stand]]" was introduced at the inauguration of Ontario's pavilion at the [[Expo 67]] [[World's Fair]], and became the background for the province's advertising for decades.

In 1973 the first slogan to appear on [[U.S. and Canadian license plates#Ontario|licence plates]] in Ontario was "Keep It Beautiful." This was replaced by "Yours to Discover" in 1982<ref>[http://www.15q.net/on.html Ontario<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, apparently inspired by a tourism slogan, "Discover Ontario," dating back to 1927.<ref>[http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/locations/umd/cart/ont_road_chart.html | Library | University of Waterloo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (From 1988 to 1990,<ref>[http://www.ontarioroadmaps.ca/Official_Ontario/Official_Maps_producedB.htm Official Ontario Road Maps Produced -1971 - 2006]</ref> "Ontario Incredible"<ref>[http://jtr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/37/1/12 Measuring the Returns to Tourism Advertising - Butterfield et al. 37 (1): 12 - Journal of Travel Research]</ref> gave "Yours to Discover" a brief respite.)

In 2007, a new song replaced [[A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow|A Place to Stand]] after four decades. "[[There's No Place Like This]]" (Un Endroit Sans Pareil) is featured in current [[television advertising]], performed by Ontario artists including [[Molly Johnson]], [[Brian Byrne]], [[Tomi Swick]] (from [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]) and [[Keshia Chante]] (born in [[Ottawa, Ontario|Ottawa]]). <ref>[http://www.ontariotravel.net/TcisCtrl?site=consumers&key1=home&language=EN&modus=otsplmen01 There's more to discover in Ontario]</ref>

==Famous Ontarians==
The singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film director [[Neil Young]] was born in Toronto and spent part of his childhood in [[Omemee, Ontario|Omemee]], a town he memorialized in his song [[Helpless (song)|"Helpless"]] (written for Young's band [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]] but most famously recorded on the [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]] album ''[[Déjà Vu (album)|Déjà Vu]]''). The first lines of the song read, "There is a town in north Ontario / With dream comfort memory to spare / And in my mind I still need a place to go / All my changes were there."

Other famous artists originating from Ontario include musician [[Avril Lavigne]] ([[Napanee, Ontario|Napanee]]), [[Rush (band)|Rush]] ([[Toronto]]), [[Silverstein (band)|Silverstein]] ([[Burlington, Ontario|Burlington]]), [[Protest the Hero]] ([[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]]), [[Sum 41]] ([[Ajax, Ontario|Ajax]]), [[Billy Talent]] ([[Mississauga]]), [[Our Lady Peace]] ([[Toronto]]), [[Alexisonfire]] ([[St. Catharines]]), [[The Tragically Hip]], ([[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]), [[illScarlett]] ([[Mississauga]]), [[Three Days Grace]] ([[Toronto]]), singers [[Paul Anka]], [[Keisha Chante]], [[Matthew Perry (actor)|Matthew Perry]], and [[Alanis Morissette]] (all from [[Ottawa]]), [[Gordon Lightfoot]] ([[Orillia]]), musician [[Shania Twain]] ([[Timmins]]), [[Blue Rodeo]] ([[Orono, Ontario|Orono]]), comics [[Jim Carrey]] ([[Newmarket, Ontario|Newmarket]]), [[John Candy]] ([[Toronto]]), [[Russell Peters]] ([[Brampton]]), [[Mike Myers (actor)|Mike Myers]] ([[Toronto]]), [[Tom Green]] ([[Pembroke, Ontario|Pembroke]]), music band [[Barenaked Ladies]], former [[WWE Diva]] [[Trish Stratus]], and rapper [[Kardinal Offishall]] were all either raised or at one time resided in [[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]], formerly an incorporated city which now makes up the eastern section of Toronto.

==See also==
{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
*[[Canada]]
*[[Great Seal of Ontario]]
*[[Franco-Ontarian]]
*[[List of Ontario-related topics]]
*[[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
*[[Lieutenant-Governors of Ontario]]
*[[List of botanical gardens in Canada]]
*[[List of Ontario premiers]]
*[[List of Ontario counties]]
*[[List of Canadian poets]]
*[[List of communities in Ontario]]
*[[Census divisions of Ontario]]
{{col-3}}
*[[List of cities in Canada]]
*[[List of airports in Ontario]]
*[[Coat of arms of Ontario]]
*[[Flag of Ontario]]
*[[Ontario Academic Credit]]
*[[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols]]
*[[Monarchy in Ontario]]
*[[List of universities in Ontario]]
*[[List of colleges in Ontario]]
*[[Higher education in Ontario]]
{{col-3}}
*[[Eastern Ontario]]
*[[Northern Ontario]]
*[[Northwestern Ontario]]
*[[Southern Ontario]]
*[[Southwestern Ontario]]
*[[Ontario Court of Appeal]]
*[[Ontario Superior Court of Justice]]
*[[Order of Ontario]]
*[[Professional sports teams of Ontario]]
*[[Scouting in Ontario]]
*[[Ontario Association of Landscape Architects]]
*[[Ontario Provincial Police]]
{{col-end}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

== References ==
{{sourcesstart}}
* Michael Sletcher, 'Ottawa', in James Ciment, ed., ''Colonial America: An Encyclopedia of Social, Political, Cultural, and Economic History'', (5 vols., M. E. Sharpe, New York, 2006).
*[http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/ Virtual Vault], an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada
{{sourcesend}}

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks}}
*[http://www.gov.on.ca/ Government of Ontario] also at [http://www.ontario.ca/ Ontario.ca]
*[http://www.tourism.gov.on.ca/ Tourism Ontario]
*[http://www.ontariotravel.net/ Ontario Travel webpage]
*[http://www.historicbridges.org/map_ont.htm Historic Bridges in Ontario]. Features numerous photos, detailed information, and maps.
*[http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/maps/reference/provincesterritories/ontario/referencemap_image_view Map]
*[http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en Ontario MPP Contact Information]
*[http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-893/politics_economy/elections_ontario/ CBC Digital Archives - Ontario Elections: Twenty Tumultuous Years]
*[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005936 Province of Ontario from ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'']

</br>
{{Subdivisions of Ontario}}
{{Provinces and territories of Canada}}
{{coord|50|42|N|86|3|W|scale:10000000_region:CA|display=title|name=Ontario}}

[[Category:Ontario| ]]
[[Category:Provinces and territories of Canada]]
[[Category:1867 establishments]]

{{Link FA|es}}

[[af:Ontario]]
[[ang:Ontario]]
[[ar:أونتاريو]]
[[az:Ontario]]
[[zh-min-nan:Ontario]]
[[bs:Ontario]]
[[br:Ontario]]
[[bg:Онтарио]]
[[ca:Ontàrio]]
[[cs:Ontario (provincie)]]
[[cy:Ontario]]
[[da:Ontario]]
[[pdc:Ontario]]
[[de:Ontario]]
[[et:Ontario provints]]
[[el:Οντάριο]]
[[es:Ontario]]
[[eo:Ontario]]
[[eu:Ontario]]
[[fa:انتاریو]]
[[fr:Ontario]]
[[fy:Ontario]]
[[ga:Ontario]]
[[gl:Ontario]]
[[ko:온타리오 주]]
[[hi:ओन्टारियो]]
[[hr:Ontario]]
[[io:Ontario]]
[[id:Ontario]]
[[ia:Ontario]]
[[iu:ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪ/aantiuriju]]
[[it:Ontario]]
[[he:אונטריו]]
[[pam:Ontario]]
[[ka:ონტარიო (პროვინცია)]]
[[kw:Ontario]]
[[la:Ontario]]
[[lt:Ontarijas]]
[[lij:Ontario]]
[[hu:Ontario]]
[[mk:Онтарио]]
[[mr:ऑन्टारियो]]
[[nl:Ontario]]
[[cr:ᐅᐣᑌᕆᐅ]]
[[ja:オンタリオ州]]
[[no:Ontario]]
[[nn:Ontario]]
[[pms:Ontario]]
[[pl:Ontario (prowincja Kanady)]]
[[pt:Ontário]]
[[ro:Ontario]]
[[ru:Онтарио (провинция)]]
[[simple:Ontario]]
[[sk:Ontário]]
[[sl:Ontario]]
[[sr:Онтарио]]
[[sh:Ontario]]
[[fi:Ontario]]
[[sv:Ontario]]
[[tl:Ontario, Canada]]
[[ta:ஒன்டாரியோ]]
[[vi:Ontario]]
[[tr:Ontario]]
[[uk:Онтаріо (провінція)]]
[[ur:انٹاریو]]
[[vo:Ontario]]
[[yi:אנטעריא]]
[[bat-smg:Ontarėjė]]
[[zh:安大略省]]

Revision as of 14:19, 5 September 2008

Fuck Les Ontarien

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Ontario&oldid=236452283"