It is home to the nation's capital, Ottawa, and its most populous city, Toronto, [12] which is Ontario's provincial capital. Ontario is bordered by the province of Manitoba to the west, Hudson Bay and James Bay to the north, and Quebec to the east and northeast.
The most populous Canadian province, Ontario is home to more than one-third of Canada’s total population. Ontario is also the nation’s wealthiest province, having a substantial share of the country’s natural resources and its most mature and diversified industrial economy.
Located in east-central Canada, Ontario has the biggest population in the country and is the second-largest province in total area. The word “Ontario” comes from the Iroquois word “kanadario”, meaning “sparkling” water. The province is well named, since lakes and rivers make up one-fifth of its area.
Ontario is a province of Canada that is in the eastern half of Canada, between Manitoba and Quebec. Ontario has the largest population of any province, with over 16 million in 2025, and is home to the largest city in Canada, Toronto, which is also the capital of the province.