Economy
Ontario is the most industrialized province of Canada and accounts for more of the nation's gross domestic product—about 40 per cent—than any other province. Some of the leading economic activities are manufacturing, services, farming, mining, and lumbering. Also important are retail and wholesale trade. The province has abundant natural resources, hydroelectric power, and skilled labor. Its location on the Great Lakes and its easy access to large markets in the United States and Canada also contribute to its economic strength. Southeastern Ontario is the most highly developed part of the province. Many United States companies and other foreign firms have invested heavily in Ontario. The province is Canada's chief financial center. Most of the nation's largest banks have headquarters in Toronto.
Ontario accounts for about half of Canada's manufactured goods by value and has about half of the nation's factory workers. The chief industry is the manufacturing of automobiles, automobile parts, and other transportation equipment. The automobile industry is closely linked to its counterpart in the United States. Other major manufacturing activities include the production of foods and beverages; metals; electrical appliances and equipment; chemicals; paper, particularly newsprint; machinery; petroleum products; and rubber and plastic goods. Many of Ontario's manufactured products are exported in substantial amounts.
The greatest concentration of manufacturing facilities is along the western shore of Lake Ontario, particularly the Toronto-Hamilton area. Toronto and its suburbs form the largest and most diversified manufacturing area in Canada. Hamilton is the nation's chief producer of iron and steel. The province's largest industrial center outside of the Lake Ontario area is Windsor, opposite Detroit.
Only about five per cent of the land is farmed, yet Ontario produces much of Canada's farm goods. Farming is limited almost entirely to the southeast, where climate and soils are favorable to the production of a great variety of crops. The growing season here lasts up to 180 days, about twice as long as in northern regions. Farms are moderately large and highly mechanized.
Ontario has a large number of commercial livestock farms and many dairy farms. Beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, and eggs are major farm products. Hay and other forage crops, corn, and wheat are widely grown. Ontario produces a number of crops that are not grown in sizable amounts elsewhere in Canada. Among them are tobacco and soybeans.
Apples are widely grown. The Niagara Peninsula accounts for most of Canada's output of grapes, peaches, and strawberries. A variety of vegetables are grown.
For many years, until overtaken by petroleum-rich Alberta in the early 1970's, Ontario was Canada's leading province in the production of minerals. It still provides roughly 40 per cent of Canada's metallic minerals.
Most of Ontario's mineral production consists of metals from the Canadian Shield. Nickel and gold accounts for a large part of the province's total mineral output. Copper, zinc, silver, and platinum are also of major importance. The rest of Ontario's mineral production consists largely of clay, sand and gravel, and stone. There is very little production of mineral fuels.
Lumbering is carried on in many parts of central and southern Ontario, especially where rivers and lakes make it possible to float logs to mills. The annual cut is used mostly for making pulp and paper, particularly newsprint. Lumber, plywood, and veneers are also produced. Conifers provide most of the wood.
Ontario accounts for much of Canada's commercial freshwater fish. The catch comes mainly from the Great Lakes and consists chiefly of perch, smelt, whitefish, pickerel, and pike. Economically, sport fishing is considerably more important than commercial fishing. Countless anglers are attracted to the province's many lakes, rivers, fishing camps, and resorts.
Ontario is Canada's leading fur-producing province. Trapping accounts for the greatest number of pelts, but pelts of animals raised on fur farms, especially mink, provide greater overall revenue.
Ontario has excellent land, water, and air transportation in the central and southern parts of the province, particularly in the southeast. Settlements in the north are accessible only by air.
Ontario leads all provinces in railway mileage. Trackage is mainly that of the Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, and VIA Rail.
The highway network is a fine and extensive route in Canada. The chief routes are the Trans-Canada Highway and the modern expressways along the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario.
The Welland Canal is a vital link in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. By tonnage, the chief ports are Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Nanticoke, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, and Windsor.
Toronto Pearson International Airport, near Toronto, is the busiest air terminal in Canada. There is also a major international airport at Ottawa.
