Toronto is home to one of the world's largest medical faculties based in a research-intensive health science complex.

Toronto boasts:

• the first all-digital area code in North America (416)
• the largest free-calling area in North America (416/647/289/905)

Canada always ranks high in any international quality of life assessment. Safe cities and friendly communities allow for an enviable lifestyle that both residents and visitors enjoy.

Ontario is one of 10 provinces and three territories which form Canada. Canada is a constitutional monarchy; both Canada and Ontario have political systems based on the British parliamentary model.

Canada has a three-tiered system with Federal, Provincial, and Municipal levels of government, each having different responsibilities. Canada's capital is in Ottawa, Ontario; Ontario's capital is Toronto. Municipal governments are under provincial jurisdiction and each is governed by an elected mayor and council.

Canadian cities consistently score well in cost-of-living surveys compared to other international urban centres.

Consumer prices in Ontario will remain stable with expected inflation rates of 1.3 per cent in 2007 and 1.9 per cent in 2008.

In 2001 Ontario had over 4.3 million households. Two-thirds of dwellings in Ontario are owned by the occupant. Ontario offers a range of affordable housing, with the average price varying from around C$150,000 in smaller communities to about C$350,000 in central Toronto.

Ontario cities are among the safest in North America. Both homicide and robbery rates are well below those of US cities of comparable size. The province's urban centres strive to maintain their safety record and visitors often comment on the cleanliness of Ontario's cities and the friendliness of their residents.

Ontario offers cultural and recreational possibilities for every conceivable taste. From first rate theatre and music productions to big sports events and unspoiled natural beauty, Ontario has something to suit everyone.

The mix of ethnic and linguistic groups that make up Ontario contribute to the cultural life and spirit of the province. More than 50 major languages are spoken in Ontario. Ontario's population is more diversified than Canada as a whole while Ontario's capital, Toronto, is Canada's most multicultural city.

Ontario Population by Home Language Spoken, 2001   Home Language Number of Speakers     English 8,456,585     French 164,550     Chinese 97,575     Italian 70,350     Portuguese 48,595     Spanish 38,250     Punjabi 54,705     Polish 39,030     German 20,130     Greek 15,395     Korean 22,970     Dutch 2,055     Japanese 3,280

Source: Statistics Canada Census, 2001 (10/2005)