The province is divided into two sections, the older and more thoroughly settled portion, Southern Ontario, with an area of some 77,00o square miles, and Northern Ontario, with an area of 330,000. Of the total area, water forms 10.16 per cent. The population of the province in 1931 was 3,431,683, and the growth since 1911 is reflected in the decennial census of the Dominion: The percentage increase of the population in fifty years (1871 1921) was 80.99. In 1921 the density of population (number of persons per square mile of land area) was 8.02, whereas the aver age for Canada was 2.41. An increasing percentage of people live in cities, towns or incorporated villages, as is illustrated in the following figures: The smallest urban unit, the village, must by provincial law have a population of 75o in an area not exceeding 500 acres. Some i6o municipalities had in 5921 populations between i,000 and 5,00o. The largest city and the capital of the province is Toronto, with a population of 631,207. Hamilton, a manufac turing centre, comes next with 155,547, and Ottawa, the federal capital, follows Hamilton with 126,872. Another important and handsome city—but with a population under 00,00o—is London, situated in the rich agricultural area of western Ontario. Racially the population of the province is dominantly of Anglo Saxon stock. In the last census (1921) seventy per cent. of the people were of British origin; about nine per cent. French, and four per cent. German. The French settlements are largely in that portion of the province bordering on the St. Lawrence, and in the newer areas of the north. Over 26,000 Indians dwell within Ontario, mainly on reservations long ago set apart for them. The numerically strongest sectarian group is the United Church, which as in other provinces resulted from union of the Method ists, Congregationalists and Presbyterians. Its influence has given a puritan tone to social life, instanced in the legislation for the strict observance of the Sabbath. The Roman Catholic Church followed by the Anglican ranks next in strength of membership.
The government of Ontario differs little from that of the other Canadian provinces. Executive power is vested in a lieutenant-governor appointed for five years by the federal administration and assisted by an executive council, the members of which have seats in and are responsible to the local legislature. This consists of one house, 112 members, elected by a wide suffrage that places women on the same footing as men. The legis lature has the right only of direct taxation, and the principal taxes are those on corporations, succession duties, licences, permits of various kinds, etc. A goodly income is derived from the sale or lease of crown lands, timber and minerals, and an annual subsidy from the federal government. A popular system of municipal administration has existed since 1849. The act of that year has been the Magna Charta of municipal institutions, not only for Ontario, but for the more recent provinces that have largely copied Ontario's institutions. It has undergone amend
ments, but the essentials of a popular system of local government with elected councils have been maintained and strengthened. There are in the province over goo local self-governing units, embracing townships, counties, villages, towns and cities.
The inhabitants of Ontario have been distin guished by special devotion to the maintenance of an educational system. In the early years of provincial history, the legislature made considerable grants of land for such purposes, and to-day few departments of government are deemed so important as that of education. A minister in the executive council is nominally responsible to the legislature for policy, and his departmental deputy exercises scarcely less influence on the educational system. School inspectors seek to uphold throughout the province uniform and high standards, while in every district a body of trustees levies taxes, appoints the teachers, and in general provides for the maintenance of the local school. Attendance is compulsory between the ages of eight and sixteen. The primary or public schools are free and undenominational, but not secular, as prayer and Bible reading hold a place in the daily programme. Since 1863 the Roman Catholics have exercised the right to separate schools, which may be set up in any district upon the request of not less than five heads of families. Taxes levied on the sup porters of these institutions are devoted wholly to their main tenance. Under prescribed conditions, Protestants and coloured persons may also claim the right to separate schools, but the right is rarely exercised.
Secondary education is provided in high schools and collegiate institutes, of which 186 existed in 1925. These institutions may require fees or give free education at the option of the local trustees. There are also many incorporated private schools, exempt from municipal taxation. They are grouped principally in Toronto and its neighbourhood, the most distinguished being Upper Canada College, founded in 1829.
Higher education is provided by the provincial university in Toronto and four other universities: Queen's in Kingston, Western in London, McMaster (Baptist) in Toronto, and the University of Ottawa (Roman Catholic) in the federal capital. The provincial institution, known as the University of Toronto, had in 1926 a total staff of 672, including junior instructors and demonstrators, and a student body of 5,466. It is a federation of colleges, and boasts of scholars no less distinguished than those in the finest universities of the United States and Great Britain. In all the universities women are admitted on the same terms as men, and generally form about two-fifths of the whole student body. In addition to the universities, model and normal schools exist for the training of teachers, while the cause of scientific agriculture is promoted by the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph, founded and endowed by the government.