What is the capital of Ontario?

Discover Canada identifies Ontario's capital in its provincial-capital list. The guide pairs Ontario with Toronto as its capital city, alongside the other provinces and territories. The capital the test wants is therefore Toronto.

Toronto is more than a provincial capital. Discover Canada describes it as "the largest city in Canada and the country's main financial centre," and elsewhere calls Toronto's business district "Canada's financial capital." So Toronto is both the political seat of Ontario and the economic engine of the country — one city carrying two distinct national roles.

The city's name has historical roots. Discover Canada notes that the British "burned Government House and the Parliament Buildings in York (now Toronto)" during the War of 1812 — a reminder that Toronto was originally called York, and that it played a central role in early Upper Canada politics. The same passage records that "in retaliation in 1814," the British struck back at Washington, capturing the city and burning the President's House.

Ontario's broader profile gives more context. Discover Canada records that "at more than 12 million, the people of Ontario make up more than one-third of Canadians." The province has Canada's "largest French-speaking population outside of Quebec," with one million Francophones. Five Great Lakes — Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior — lie between Ontario and the United States. Toronto sits as Ontario's capital amidst this geography: a Great Lakes-front city in Canada's most populous province, hosting the country's main financial centre and serving as the gateway between provincial government and national economic life.

The question is testing whether new citizens know which city is the capital of Ontario. Discover Canada commits to one city: Toronto. The right test answer matches that.

The wrong answer choices each pick a different Ontario or federal city. Ottawa is named in the guide as the national capital — chosen by Queen Victoria in 1857 — but not as the provincial capital of Ontario. Hamilton and London are not named as capitals anywhere in the guide. Only Toronto is named in the guide as Ontario's capital.