EagleBear's Den Aerie

What can I say about Ontario? Most Canadians (outside of Quebec) identify with their country, then their city, before their province. Except for 3 weeks in British Columbia, when I was four years old, I've always lived in Ontario.

Ontario is the province with the largest population (9 million of Canada's 30 million) and is the center of industry and commerce for Canada. Ontario is the province everyone else in Canada loves to hate. There's the East's and West's dislike of Central Ontario (which includes Quebec) and a long-time rivalry between Ontario and Quebec (ever since they were Upper and Lower Canada).

Most business in centered in Toronto, which has led to a "Toronto versus everywhere" mentality in some quarters. Transportation is good, with Highways 401, 402 and 403 forming a bridge between Michigan and New York for many U.S. truckers. Lately, a few have been leaving some wheels behind, bouncing down the 401, past or (sometimes fatally) into cars. The Provincial Government does not believe that the condition of Ontario's highways has anything to do with this, but I'm not so sure.

Speaking of the Provincial Government, in 1995, other people in the province (not me) elected the Progressive Conservatives (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one) with a large majority. In mid-January, the Conservative government announced sweeping changes in the distribution of powers in Ontario. The Province is taking over Education funding and combining multiple city and county School Boards into large Regional Boards. There are fears that local concerns will no longer be heard on the new boards covering two or three counties.

In exchange, the Province has made local municipalites responsible for funding for regional highways, half of general welfare, public transit, commuter trains, water supply, libraries, Children's Aid, subsidized housing and local health units. The Premier (equivalent to a Govenor) has recently admitted that the exchange will cost the municipalities more than they will save on Education until they can "streamline" the system. Very recently, negotiations have started between the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario over possible "adjustments" to the exchange. Some are asking how rising welfare, subsidized housing and Children's Aid costs (where the Province sets the levels of benefits and services required) will be paid for during the next recession, as tax revenues go down and needs go up. If we're lucky, it will be an election year and the government of the day will want votes.

Other legislation pending will make a "megacity" of over 2.3 million out of Metro Toronto (sort of like combining New York City's boroughs.) The next step may be to make an even larger municipality of 4 million out of Metro and the surrounding municipalities (sort of like combining New York City with all of New Jersey, Connecticut and southern New York State). Complaints have been made of a lack of consultation by the government on this issue (among others). The Megacity will have a larger population than any Canadian Province other than Quebec.

There are some marked differences between highly urbanized Southern Ontario and less populated Northern Ontario. Some services are unavailable or restricted, health care is farther away, there are fewer paved roads, and fewer tax dollars to go around. Northern Ontarians receive a tax credit for living in the North and pay a lesser car registration fee. There is some talk of a Northern Ontario Independence movement starting to promote dividing the North from Souther Ontario and becoming a separate province.

While Ontario is Canada's most developed province, it still has large tracts of forests and parks, thousands of lakes and beautiful scenery. Come see it while it's still here.

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Ontario Links

The Ontario Consultants on Racial Tolerance
Government of Ontario
The Phone Company

TVOntario

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Last Updated: April 25, 1999
Links Checked: June 1, 1998
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