Quote:
Originally Posted by Docere
- Eastern Ontario is more French Canadian and Irish, SW Ontario is more German and Dutch
- SW Ontario has more evangelicals (Baptists, Mennonites, Dutch Calvinist etc.) - largely though not entirely related to the German/Dutch presence.
- Eastern Ontario has a more visible UEL presence even today. SW Ontario had more settlers (from both Britain and the US) with more democratic and populist tendencies, making it a stronghold for the Liberals (Clear Grits) in the 19th century and the United Farmers of Ontario after WWI. It was also the main bastion of the Ontario Liberals up until the 1970s.
- SW Ontario is probably more "socially conservative" on issues like abortion because of the larger evangelical presence. Eastern Ontario takes the more traditional or conservative position on issues like support for the military and monarchy (in addition to the Loyalist culture of Eastern Ontario, SW Ontario has pockets, particularly German-settled areas, with a more complicated relationship to the military and monarchy).
- In terms of economy, SW Ontario has more prosperous agricultural areas and is also part of the industrial heartland. Eastern Ontario would have more public employment (simply because Ottawa makes about half the population!)
- SW Ontario cities have a more "Midwestern" urban form than Eastern Ontario cities do.
I haven't defined it exactly - but I'm thinking that SW Ontario is more or less synonymous with the 519 area code or "N" postal codes, while Eastern Ontario = 613 or "K" postal codes.
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I would agree with all of those. I'm trying to think of some additional differences.
-SW ON has much more manufacturing as part of its economy
-SW Ontarians are much more attached to the U.S. (especially economically but also for travel and shopping) than those in Eastern ON. Borders crossing in the SW are mostly city to city while the Eastern ones are between smaller places. You are much more likely to see U.S. companies in the SW. It's often the first place they will try in Canada. For example, many American restaurant chains or stores will try out London. I find that people in the Southwest are much more influenced by Americans.
-Agree that Eastern ON is bigger on military. Both Trenton and Petawawa are places where it is the main employer. I believe Kingston has quite a few people who work in it as well. Ottawa does of course even though it's not a significant percentage of those working in the city. I can't think of any place in the Southwest that is a military town. There is Borden near Barrie but technically that's GTA and not the SW.
-More people in Eastern ON visit Montreal and Quebec much more frequently due to being much closer. This is especially the case East of Kingston and including Ottawa. You hear people in SW ON talking more often about visiting Michigan or Ohio and maybe Chicago over Quebec.
-politically, the NDP has had more success in the Southwest. I don't know of the NDP ever winning more than a couple of seats in Eastern Ontario both federally or provincially with the exception of the 1990 provincial election. In 1990 they won five seats but that was a fluke and the victories were very close three-way splits. In the Southwest, they will often win seats in Windsor, London and sometimes Kitchener.
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