Reasons for Immigration to the Ontario Province in Canada

Capital

• Toronto

Population

• 12.9 million

Interesting Facts

• More people live in Ontario than in any other province.
• Ontario is one of the largest provinces of Canada.
• Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the largest city in Canada.
• The capital of Canada, Ottawa is also located in Ontario.
• Toronto holds the Guinness World Record for the longest street: Yonge Street stretches 1,178 miles, from Toronto's harbour all the way to the Minnesota border.
• Niagara Falls, the most powerful waterfall in North America, is in Ontario.
• Singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette was born in Ottawa.
• Many of Canada’s largest libraries, museums and galleries are located in Ontario.
• Many of Ontario's cultural and arts festivals take place during the summer and offer free outdoor performances. There are comedy festivals, jazz festivals and festivals of authors and film.
• Canada Day on the 1st weekend of July, are accompanied by public celebrations including parades, fireworks and musical entertainment.
• Toronto is Canada's financial centre.
• Ontario is Canada's most expensive province.
• According to Runheimer International, Toronto is one of the least expensive cities to live in the world.
• Taxes are the biggest single expense for Ontario residents.
• Ontario has a strong, diversified economy, with many kinds of work and many different industries. Most immigrants go to Ontario because of the opportunities offered there.

Climate

• Ontario has warm summers during July and August and comfortable weather in spring (May and June) and the fall (September and October). Winters can be very cold, especially in Northern Ontario.
  Some average temperatures:
  

  Location	January	July
  Toronto	-4.2C	22.2C
  Sudbury	-13.6C	19.0C
  Windsor/Essex	-4.5C	22.7C

Shopping and Sport

• Sports fanatics can get their fill by taking in a hockey game with the Leafs, basketball with the Raptors or a Blue Jay baseball game at the Dome.
• Shopping is plentiful as well and in the winter months - you don't even need to go outside! Toronto's PATH 10-kilometer underground city, is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the “Biggest Underground Shopping Complex.”

Job Situation

• The fastest growing areas are business services, including information technology, finance, tourism and culture.
• In the north, the economy is mainly based on natural resources such as forests and minerals, while the south is Canada’s manufacturing heartland.
• Main industry is manufacturing of automobiles and auto parts.
• Ontario is Canada’s largest producer of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products.
• Jobs in Ontario's Private Sector make up the majority of employment.
• Unemployment is at 8.5%
• The average annual salary is at least $55000.

Schooling

• All Canadians under the age of 20 are entitled to free education up to the end of secondary school provided by the provincial government. The Government of Ontario provides free schooling from kindergarten through to Grade 12.
• Ontario's publicly-funded postsecondary education system is made up of 19 universities and 24 colleges.

Housing

Healthcare

• Ontario has one of the best health insurance programs in the world. Residents can go to the doctor and have their health issues taken care of without discrimination, without long waiting periods, and without having to pay outlandish medical bills. That is because medical costs are paid with taxpayer money.

Towns and Cities

• Ontario has 445 towns and cities. Major destinations for newcomers are the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa – the capital of Canada – Hamilton, Windsor, London, and the region around Niagara Falls.