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| Province of Ontario (1867–) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ontario |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Established title | Confederation |
| Established date | July 1, 1867 |
| Capital | Toronto |
| Largest city | Toronto |
| Area km2 | 1076395 |
| Population | 14,700,000 (approx.) |
| Official languages | English |
Province of Ontario (1867–) is a political subdivision of Canada created at Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867. The province's capital, Toronto, developed into a financial and cultural hub connected to ports like Hamilton Harbour and waterways including the Saint Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Ontario's institutions interact with federal entities such as the Parliament of Canada and judicial bodies like the Supreme Court of Canada while housing major universities such as the University of Toronto, Queen's University, and McMaster University.
Ontario emerged from the former provinces of Upper Canada and Canada West during the era of British North America Act, 1867 and subsequent provincial expansions influenced by events like the Fenian Raids and negotiations tied to the North-West Rebellion. Industrialization in cities such as Hamilton and Oshawa paralleled railway construction by companies like the Grand Trunk Railway and later the Canadian National Railway. Political milestones included the premierships of figures associated with parties like the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, the Ontario Liberal Party, and the Ontario New Democratic Party and landmark legislation enacted in provincial legislatures housed in the Ontario Legislative Building. Ontario participated in national efforts during the First World War and the Second World War and underwent social reforms connected to movements represented by unions such as the United Auto Workers and organizations like the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Ontario spans ecozones from the mixed forests of the Canadian Shield to the agricultural plains of the Great Lakes Basin. Prominent natural features include Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Niagara Falls, and conservation sites such as the Algonquin Provincial Park and the Bruce Peninsula National Park. Environmental challenges involve issues highlighted by groups like the International Joint Commission and incidents such as contamination episodes similar to the Walkerton E. coli outbreak and responses involving the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Ontario's climate gradients influence species ranges for wildlife listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and management frameworks used by agencies like the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Ontario's parliamentary system is modeled on the Westminster system with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario representing the Monarch of Canada and a unicameral Legislative Assembly of Ontario led by the Premier of Ontario. Major political parties include the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, the Ontario Liberal Party, and the Ontario New Democratic Party; provincial elections are regulated by the Elections Ontario framework. Jurisdictional disputes have arisen in contexts involving the Constitution Act, 1867 and constitutional negotiations such as the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord, while legal matters have reached appellate review in the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ontario's economy integrates sectors anchored by the Toronto Stock Exchange, manufacturing clusters in Windsor and Cambridge, and resource industries in northern hubs like Sudbury and Timmins. Automotive production tied to multinational corporations such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler has shaped employment and union activity involving the Canadian Auto Workers. Financial services concentrate in Toronto, home to institutions such as the Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Montreal national operations, while technology corridors include companies clustered around the MaRS Discovery District and research collaborations with Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and hospitals like Toronto General Hospital. Trade corridors utilize the St. Lawrence Seaway and border crossings at Ambassador Bridge and Peace Bridge to connect with the United States market.
Ontario's population reflects settlement patterns from waves of immigration through ports such as Halifax historically and modern arrivals via Toronto Pearson International Airport, with communities tracing origins to countries including United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Italy, and Portugal. Indigenous peoples include nations represented by organizations like the Assembly of First Nations and regional communities such as the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Cree. Urbanization concentrates residents in the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe, while census data collected by Statistics Canada and provincial planning agencies inform public service delivery. Demographic issues intersect with policy arenas like immigration managed through federal-provincial cooperation with entities such as the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Ontario's cultural institutions include the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, performing venues like the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and Caribana. Literary figures associated with Ontario include authors connected to publishing houses and prizes like the Giller Prize and the Scotiabank Giller Prize sponsorships, while musicians have roots in scenes spanning Kingston and Toronto's Queen Street West. Media organizations such as the CBC/Radio-Canada and the Globe and Mail have major presences, and sport franchises including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto Blue Jays contribute to regional identity alongside amateur clubs governed by bodies like Ontario Hockey Federation.
Major transportation infrastructure includes highways such as the Highway 401, rail services by Via Rail and commuter networks like the Toronto Transit Commission, and airports including Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. Cross-border freight and passenger flows depend on bridges and tunnels such as the Thousand Islands Bridge and the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel, while energy systems integrate assets like the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and transmission managed by entities such as the Independent Electricity System Operator. Municipal utilities collaborate with provincial agencies during projects akin to the Green Energy Act, 2009 and infrastructure investments financed through partnerships involving the Infrastructure Ontario agency.