Central Canada Explained

Central Canada
Subdivision Type1:Composition
Subdivision Type2:Largest city
Subdivision Name2:Toronto
Subdivision Type3:Largest metro
Subdivision Name3:Greater Toronto Area
Coordinates:50°N -79°W
Established Title:Canadian Confederation
Established Date:1 July 1867
Area Footnotes: (2021 - land, 2017 - fresh water)
Area Total Km2:2,552,291.51
Area Land Km2:2,191,011.51
Area Water Km2:361,280.00
Population As Of:2021
Population Total:22,725,775
Population Density Km2:10.4
Timezone Link:Time in Canada
Timezone1 Location:Western Ontario
Timezone1:CST
Utc Offset1:−06:00
Timezone1 Dst:CDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:−05:00
Timezone2 Location:Eastern Ontario / most of Quebec
Timezone2:EST
Utc Offset2:−05:00
Timezone2 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset2 Dst:−04:00
Timezone3 Location:Eastern Quebec
Timezone3:AST
Utc Offset3:−04:00
Timezone3 Dst:ADT
Utc Offset3 Dst:−03:00

Central Canada (French: Centre du Canada, sometimes the Central provinces) is a Canadian region consisting of Ontario and Quebec, the largest and most populous provinces of the country.[1] Geographically, they are not at the centre of Canada but instead overlap with Eastern Canada toward the east. Because of their large populations, Ontario and Quebec have traditionally held a significant amount of political power in Canada, leading to some amount of resentment from other regions of the country. Before Confederation, the term "Canada" specifically referred to Central Canada. Today, the term "Central Canada" is less often used than the names of the individual provinces.

History

Before Confederation, the region known as Canada was what is now called Central Canada. Southern Ontario was once called Upper Canada and later Canada West, and southern Quebec was called Lower Canada and later Canada East. Both were part of the United Province of Canada in 1841.[2]

Geography

See main article: Geography of Canada, Geography of Ontario, Geography of Quebec and Centre of Canada.

Ontario, Canada's fourth largest subdivision (after Nunavut, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories), had, at the 2021 Canadian census, a land area of [3] (10.15 per cent of Canada and the fifth largest after Nunavut, Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia) and as of 2017, there was [4] (21.55 per cent of Canada and the second largest after Quebec) of fresh water, for a total area of (11.13 per cent of Canada).

Quebec, Canada's second largest subdivision and largest province, had, at the 2021 Canadian census, a land area of [3] (14.78 per cent of Canada and the second largest after Nunavut), and as of 2017, there was [5] (22.34 per cent and the largest in Canada) of fresh water, for a total area of (15.42 per cent of Canada).

Together the two provinces have a land area of (24.93 per cent), (43.89 per cent) fresh water for a total area of (26.55 per cent).[3] [4] [5]

Although the region is called Central Canada the actual centre of Canada can be defined in multiple ways. The longitudinal centre of Canada is located just east of Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Highway 1 East, part of the Trans-Canada Highway.[6] The latitudinal centre is at 62 degrees, 24 minutes north, meaning the geographic centre of Canada is located just south of Yathkyed Lake, Nunavut.[7]

Physical geography

Quebec

Population

Ontario and Quebec are the two most populous provinces in Canada, accounting for 61.43 per cent of Canada's population.[3] As of the 2021 census conducted by Statistics Canada there were 22,725,775 people in the two provinces, and represented an increase of 5.1 per cent over the 2016 census figure of 21,612,855 people.[3] The land area was giving a population density of .[3]

The median age of Ontario was 41.6, identical to Canada as a whole, and Quebec's population was slightly older at 43.2.[8]

Population of visible minority, Indigenous, and others (2021 Canadian census)
OntarioQuebecCentral CanadaCanada
Population groupPopulation
 		% of
province		Population
 		% of
province		Population
 		% of
Central Canada		% of
Canada		Population
 		%
 
Non-visible minority or Indigenous 8,807,805 62.8% 6,762,735 81.4% 15,570,541 61.4% 42.9% 25,364,140 69.8%
Visible minority group 1,515,295 10.8% 127,990 1.5% 1,643,285 7.4% 4.5% 2,571,400 7.1%
820,245 5.8% 115,240 1.4% 935,485 4.2% 2.6% 1,715,770 4.7%
768,740 5.5% 422,405 5.1% 1,191,145 5.3% 3.3% 1,574,870 4.3%
363,650 2.6% 44,885 0.5% 408,535 1.8% 1.1% 957,355 2.6%
284,215 2.0% 280,075 3.4% 564,290 2.5% 1.6% 694,015 1.9%
249,190 1.8% 172,925 2.1% 422,115 1.9% 1.2% 580,235 1.6%
167,845 1.2% 70,455 0.8% 238,300 1.1% 0.7% 390,340 1.1%
212,185 1.5% 43,985 0.5% 256,170 1.1% 0.7% 360,495 1.0%
99,425 0.7% 10,360 0.1% 109,785 0.5% 0.3% 218,140 0.6%
31,420 0.2% 5,305 0.1% 36,725 0.2% 0.1% 98,890 0.3%
Visible minority, n.i.e. 124,120 0.9% 12,150 0.1% 136,270 0.6% 0.4% 331,805 0.9%
Multiple visible minority 181,025 1.3% 34,960 0.4% 215,985 1.0% 0.6% 172,885 0.5%
Total visible minority population 4,817,360 34.3% 1,340,735 16.1% 6,158,095 27.6% 17.0% 9,639,205 26.5%
251,030 1.8% 116,550 1.4% 367,580 1.6% 1.0% 1,048,405 2.9%
134,615 1.0% 61,010 0.7% 195,625 0.9% 0.5% 624,220 1.7%
4,310 0.0% 15,800 0.2% 20,110 0.1% 0.1% 70,540 0.2%
Multiple Indigenous responses 7,115 0.1% 3,135 0.1% 10,250 0.0% 0.0% 28,855 0.1%
Indigenous responses n.i.e. 9,515 0.1% 8,515 0.0% 18,030 0.1% 0.0% 35,225 0.1%
Total Indigenous population 406,585 2.9% 205,010 2.5% 611,595 2.7% 1.7% 1,807,250 5.0%
Total population 14,031,750 100.00% 8,308,480 100.00% 22,340,230 100.00% 61.5% 36328480 100.00%

They are represented in the House of Commons of Canada by 199 Members of Parliament (Ontario: 121, Quebec: 78) out of a total of 338.[9] The southern portions of the two provinces — particularly the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor — are the most urbanized and industrialized areas of Canada, containing the country's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal, the national capital, Ottawa, and the National Capital Region.

As of the 2021 census Statistics Canada lists 24 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) in Central Canada. They include Ottawa - Gatineau as well as Ottawa - Gatineau (Ontario part) and Ottawa - Gatineau (Quebec part).[10] [11] All CMAs in Quebec are located the southern part of the province. In Ontario, with the exception of Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury and Thunder Bay, which are in Northern Ontario, all CMAs are in Southern Ontario. The CMAs are listed here by population count:

Census Metropolitan Areas
NameProvincePopulationLand areaDensityLocationReferences
6,202,225 [12]
4,291,732 [13]
1,488,307 [14]
1,135,014 [15]
839,311 [16]
785,184 [17]
575,847 [18]
543,551 [19]
433,604 [20]
422,630 [21]
415,311 [22]
353,293 [23]
227,398 [24]
212,856 [25]
172,546 [26]
170,605 [27]
165,588 [28]
161,567 [29]
161,489 [30]
144,162 [31]
128,624 [32]
123,258 [33]
111,184 [34]
101,610 [35]

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Discover Canada - Canada’s Regions. Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 1 July 2012. 7 October 2023. live. 6 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230806161959/https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/discover-canada/read-online/canadas-regions.html.
  2. [Constitutional Act of 1791]
  3. Web site: Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories. September 2, 2022. October 7, 2023. Statistics Canada. https://web.archive.org/web/20230411183058/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000101 . April 11, 2023. live.
  4. Web site: Ontario's provincial symbols. Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage. 15 August 2017. 7 October 2023. live. 2 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230602222545/https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/provincial-territorial-symbols-canada/ontario.html.
  5. Web site: Quebec's provincial symbols. Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage. 15 August 2017. 7 October 2023. live. 29 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230529202126/https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/provincial-territorial-symbols-canada/quebec.html.
  6. Web site: Meet in the middle: Centre of Canada park opens in RM of Taché, Man.. CBC News. 17 August 2021. live. 7 October 2023. 16 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816000505/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-tache-centre-canada-park-1.4252409.
  7. Web site: The Atlas of Canada - Frequently Asked Questions About Canada . 16 February 2010. 7 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20130122002158/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/faq.html/#q9 . 22 January 2013.
  8. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Quebec, Ontario, Canada. Statistics Canada. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. live. 8 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231008171432/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Canada&DGUIDlist=2021A000224,2021A000235,2021A000011124&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  9. Web site: House of Commons Seat Allocation by Province 2012 to 2022. Elections Canada. 12 August 2021. 8 October 2023. 3 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220103142349/https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=cir/red/arc/2012red/allo&document=index&lang=e. live.
  10. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Select from a list of geographies, Ontario - Census metropolitan area / Census agglomeration. 8 October 2023. 3 August 2023. live. 1 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230701040249/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/search-recherche/lst/results-resultats.cfm?Lang=E&GEOCODE=35.
  11. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Select from a list of geographies, Quebec - Census metropolitan area / Census agglomeration. 8 October 2023. 3 August 2023. live. 31 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831154650/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/search-recherche/lst/results-resultats.cfm?Lang=E&GEOCODE=24.
  12. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Toronto, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009155453/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Toronto&DGUIDlist=2021S0503535&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  13. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Montreal, Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010354/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Montreal&DGUIDlist=2021S0503462&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  14. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Ottawa - Gatineau, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009153020/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Ottawa%20-%20Gatineau&DGUIDlist=2021S0503505&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  15. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Ottawa - Gatineau (Ontario part), Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009153120/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Ottawa%20-%20Gatineau%20%5BOntario%20part%5D&DGUIDlist=2021S050535505&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  16. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Quebec City, Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010632/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Quebec&DGUIDlist=2021S0503421&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  17. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Hamilton, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009150431/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Hamilton&DGUIDlist=2021S0503537&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  18. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Kitchener - Cambridge – Waterloo, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009151116/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Kitchener%20-%20Cambridge%20-%20Waterloo&DGUIDlist=2021S0503541&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  19. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - London, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009151134/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=London&DGUIDlist=2021S0503555&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  20. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - St. Catharines - Niagara, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009155232/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=St%2E%20Catharines%20-%20Niagara&DGUIDlist=2021S0503539&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  21. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Windsor, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009155553/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Windsor&DGUIDlist=2021S0503559&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  22. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Oshawa, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009151721/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Oshawa&DGUIDlist=2021S0503532&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  23. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Ottawa – Gatineau (Quebec part), Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010513/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Ottawa%20-%20Gatineau%20%5BQuebec%20part%5D&DGUIDlist=2021S050524505&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  24. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Sherbrooke, Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010809/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Sherbrooke&DGUIDlist=2021S0503433&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  25. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Barrie, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009145513/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Barrie&DGUIDlist=2021S0503568&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  26. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Kingston, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009150929/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Kingston&DGUIDlist=2021S0503521&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  27. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009150150/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Greater%20Sudbury%20%2F%20Grand%20Sudbury&DGUIDlist=2021S0503580&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  28. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Guelph, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009150346/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Guelph&DGUIDlist=2021S0503550&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  29. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Saguenay, Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010642/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Saguenay&DGUIDlist=2021S0503408&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  30. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Trois-Rivières, Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010811/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Trois-Rivieres&DGUIDlist=2021S0503442&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  31. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Brantford, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009150133/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Brantford&DGUIDlist=2021S0503543&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  32. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Peterborough, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009155106/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Peterborough&DGUIDlist=2021S0503529&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  33. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Thunder Bay, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009155351/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Thunder%20Bay&DGUIDlist=2021S0503595&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  34. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Belleville - Quinte West, Ontario - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 9 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009145518/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Belleville%20-%20Quinte%20West&DGUIDlist=2021S0503522&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.
  35. Web site: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Drummondville, Quebec - [Census metropolitan area]]. live. 8 October 2023. 1 February 2023. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009010211/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Drummondville&DGUIDlist=2021S0503447&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0.

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