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Ontario
is located in eastern North America, and borders Manitoba (west),
Minnesota (south-west), Michigan (south), New York (south-east),
and Quebec (east). The southern boundary is formed by the St. Lawrence
Seaway, which is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, giving
access to the interior of North America. First settled by the French
in the early 17th century, New France was ceded to Britain after
the French and Indian War. After the Revolution many American loyalists
fled north to Quebec. Upper Canada was created, which would later
became Ontario. Today Ontario contributes 40 percent of the GDP
of Canada. Automobile manufacturing is an important part of the
economy in southern Ontario, with convenient links to the United
States. Toronto, the main port of entry for Canada's immigrants
ranks also as the chief publishing, commercial, and banking center.
Population
& Geography
Total
Area: 1,076,395 sq km / 415,598 sq mi1
Population:
12,803,900 (2007)1
Capital
City: Toronto
Largest
Metro Areas: Toronto: 5,509,900; Ottawa: 1,168,800; Hamilton:
720,400; London: 469,700; Kitchener: 468,000; St. Catharines-Niagara: 395,800;
Windsor: 331,100; Oshawa: 348,000; Greater Sudbury: 162,700; Kingston: 155,000; Thunder Bay: 124,100 (2007)1
Economy
GDP:
$491.832 billion USD (2006)1
GDP
per capita: $38,413
USD (2006)1
Unemployment
Rate: 6.4% (2007)1
Government
Premier:
Dalton McGuinty (Lib) (2007)2
Legislative
Assembly: 71 Liberals (including Premier), 26 Progressive
Conservatives, 10 New Democrats (2007)2
Other Information
Federal Representation:
51 Liberals, 40 Conservatives, 12 New Democrats, 1 Independent (2007)3
Origin
of Name: From the Iroquois word meaning beautiful lake
or beautiful water, first used to name Lake Ontario.4
If Ontario were to become the 51st state today...
Area
Rank: 2nd
biggest State (bigger than Texas, smaller than Alaska).5
Population
Rank: 7th
most populous State (bigger than Ohio, smaller than Pennsylvania).5
GDP
Rank: 7th biggest economy in US (bigger than Ohio,
smaller than Pennsylvania).6
Congressmen:
18 House Representatives and 2 Senators.
Electoral
Votes:
20
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