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The Basics

Canada's most popular destination for Canadian immigrants, Ontario is the most populous province, home to over 12 million people. It is also the second-largest province in the country by land area.

Ontario's capital city is Toronto, whose population of 5.3 million people make it Canada's largest city. It is the country's financial center and to be the most multicultural city in the world. About half of the people living in Toronto were born in other countries. Other important cities include Ottawa, the official capital of Canada, London, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Kingston and Sudbury.

Along with being Canada's main economic hub, Ontario is also known for its vast forest land, four of the five Great Lakes and the world-famous Niagara falls. Ontario's cities attract artists, entertainers and intellectuals from around the world, along with producing a wealth of homegrown talent. Economy and Employment

As the economic heart of Ontario, all types of industries are present in the province, including a strong modern service and information economy and a solid manufacturing base. Ottawa is home to the federal government, which attracts international businesses and non-commercial organizations.

Ontario's main international manufacturing sector is the auto industry. The province also has strong natural resource-based industries. A long established mining sector includes nickel and iron mines. The province's vast forests support a lumber, pulp and paper industry that has adapted new sustainable practices.

The unemployment rate in Ontario is slightly below the national average. Job creation levels in the province have been strong in recent years, and are expected to continue.

Standard of Living

Ontario residents' average incomes rank among the highest in Canada. Some costs of living are also high, especially housing.

Ontario's standard of living ranks among the highest in the world. Toronto and Ottawa are consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities, known for their cleanliness, safety and availability of services.

Residential Housing

Ontario's major cities have some of the more expensive housing markets in Canada. Many families choose to live in the less expensive suburban areas surrounding Ontario's major cities.

Education

Ontario is home to world leading research institutions that anchor a strong publicly-funded provincial education system. For kindergarten through grade 12, children living in Ontario may enroll in public, Catholic and French immersion schools throughout the province.

Ontario's post-secondary education system consists of a network of publicly funded institutions. Most notably, Ontario is the home of the University of Toronto, Queens University, York University and the University of Western Ontario.

Health Care

Under Canadian Law, all provinces and territories must provide universal, publicly funded health care to all citizens and legal residents of Canada. In other words, most basic health services in Canada are offered at no direct cost to the patient.

Health care in Ontario is universally available to all residents at no cost to the individual. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers the full cost of all necessary medical services for all citizens and most permanent residents in Ontario.

History

Ontario was one of the original four provinces of Canadian confederation in 1867. The original name of the province was “Upper Canada” (whereas “Lower Canada” was located in what is today Quebec). As one of the first areas in Canada to industrialize, Ontario is home to some of Canada's oldest companies.

As waves of people arrived from different area of the world at different times, they have left their mark on the cultural landscape of the province.

Culture

The province benefits from some of the greatest cultural diversity in the world. Ontario's cities take their rightful places on the world maps for all major cultural, academic, and sporting events. The locally produced arts, sporting, and entertainment thrive in bustling communities.

The international flavour of the province's cities bring lively events and create a multicultural environment that is well-loved by both residents and visitors.

Demographics

At 12 million people, Ontario is Canada's most populous province. Over 90 per cent of the population lives in the southern portion of the province, within 200 km of the US border.

While a large percentage of Ontarians are of British or French descent, the province has representation from every corner of the world. The substantial Chinese population in the province is growing quickly. The province is also home to a sizable South Asian community.

There is a great deal of religious diversity in the province. While Ontario is officially a secular Catholic and Protestant are the two largest religious communities, alongside Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh and other religions.

Immigration

Over 60 per cent of new immigrants to Canada choose to settle in the province of Ontario. The province's new growth today is almost entirely fuelled by immigration. Ontario has launched a pilot Provincial Nomination Program, which allows Ontario to fast-track the immigration applications of individuals who have the skills that match the province's needs.

With so many newcomers arriving in the province each year, Ontario has many non-profit groups as well as government agencies that are well-equipped to provide settlement services to new immigrants.

Government

Canada's government works on a federal system, with control over certain affairs belonging to the national government in Ottawa, and others under the control of the provincial governments. Ontario has its own democratically-elected parliament known as the Legislature of Ontario (also known as Queen's Park). While Ottawa is the national capital, Toronto is the capital of Ontario.

The Major Cities

Toronto

Toronto is the economic capital of the country, home to the head offices of many of the largest Canadian companies. A vibrant city with many cultural communities and a constant flow of events, Toronto is known for its cleanliness and safety helping Toronto get rank consistently among the most livable cities in the world.

Over half of the city's population are considered visible minorities. Throughout the city one can find neighbourhoods featuring pockets of immigrants from any corner of the world, from Greektown to Little Italy, from Chinatown to Little Portugal and Koreatown.

As Canada's largest city and the 5th largest in North America, the city is home to an advanced economy that has opportunities in nearly every industry and field.

Ottawa

The capital of Canada, Ottawa is located in Eastern Ontario, bordering Quebec. The nation's capital region is home to approximately 1.15 million residents.

As the seat of the federal government, the public sector accounts for a great deal of employment in Ottawa. The city is also home to a large and growing high-tech sector. Ottawa is also home to two major universities, the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.