Central Canada

Central Canada is a term used in Eastern Canada to refer to the two largest and most populous Canadian provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Historically Ontario was named Upper Canada or Canada West and Quebec Lower Canada or Canada East.

Related Topics:
Eastern Canada - Canadian - Ontario - Quebec

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Combined, the two provinces have approximately 20 million inhabitants which represents 62% of Canada's population. They are represented in the Canadian House of Commons by 181 MPs (Ontario - 106, Quebec - 75) out of a total of 308. The southern portions of the two provinces (particularly the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor) form the most urban and industrialized region of Canada, containing the country's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal, and the national capital, Ottawa.

Related Topics:
Canadian House of Commons - Quebec City-Windsor Corridor - Toronto - Montreal - Ottawa

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Central Canada (particularly Ontario) also houses the headquarters of most Canadian national institutions and large corporations. Ontario and Quebec are by far the most powerful provinces, politically and economically, in the Canadian Confederation, and that power is often bitterly resented by the Western and Atlantic regions of the country. Central Canada is often regarded as an outside hegemonizing force, against which the other provinces must stand on guard to protect their local cultures and interests.

Related Topics:
Western - Atlantic

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The majority of the population of Quebec do not see themselves as Central Canadians, primarily because of the distinct Francophone culture which they feel is radically different from the culture of English-speaking Ontario. To Québécois, the economic, political and cultural power of Ontario is often seen as a dangerous force, requiring them to also protect the French culture and Quebec business interests. Another reason is geographical - only one province (Newfoundland and Labrador, and only a small percentage of that) extends further east than Quebec.

Related Topics:
Francophone - Québécois - Newfoundland and Labrador

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Geographically speaking, the longitudinal centre of Canada is a meridian passing just east of Winnipeg, Manitoba; the Geographic centre of Canada is located near Arviat, Nunavut. However, Winnipeg is considered to be located in Western Canada and Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic.

Related Topics:
Winnipeg, Manitoba - Geographic centre of Canada - Arviat, Nunavut - Western Canada

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See Also

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• Canadian Arctic
• Western Canada
• Atlantic Canada
• List of regions of Canada