Central Canada
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Central Canada map.pngCentral Canada (sometimes the Central provinces) is a region comprised of Canada's two largest and most populous provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Central Canada, with the four Atlantic provinces, form Eastern Canada. The term "Central Canada" is used in Ontario and Atlantic Canada but rarely in Quebec or Western Canada.
Despite its name, Central Canada is located entirely in the eastern half of the country. Longitudinally, the centre of Canada is a meridian passing just east of Winnipeg, Manitoba; the geographic centre of Canada is located near Arviat, Nunavut. However, many consider Winnipeg and Manitoba to be part of Western Canada, and Nunavut is in Northern Canada.
Historically, Ontario was named Upper Canada or Canada West and Quebec Lower Canada or Canada East. 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 – are the most urbanized and industrialized areas of Canada, containing the country's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal, and the national capital, Ottawa.
Central Canada, particularly Ontario, also houses the headquarters of many Canadian national institutions and large corporations. Ontario and Quebec are the most powerful and influential provinces, politically and economically, and this 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 local interests.
Often, Quebeckers (Québécois) 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. 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.