The Economic Powerhouse Evolves - History - About Ontario (Government of Ontario, Canada)

History

The Economic Powerhouse Evolves

The 1950s and 1960s were a period of enormous expansion, especially in terms of building infrastructure and developing the economy. In 1954, Canada’s first subway system opened in Toronto. In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway was completed, allowing shipping from the Atlantic Ocean to the uppermost reaches of Lake Superior.

The province built thousands of kilometres of highway, particularly in southern Ontario’s "Golden Horseshoe," the band of heavily-populated land curving around Lake Ontario’s western shore and leading down to the Canada-United States border. The provincial government also oversaw spending growth in health and education, including a new community college system.

IIn 1965, the signing of the U.S.-Canada Autopact boosted Ontario’s biggest manufacturing industry. In 1968, the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway, or Highway 401, opened. It stretched 800 kilometres across southern Ontario and would soon become Canada’s busiest highway.

Industrialization had changed Ontario forever. Back in 1901, almost 60 per cent of the population was rural. By 1981, less than 20 per cent lived outside of cities. In 1901, more than 80 per cent of Ontarians were native-born. By 1981, only 65 per cent can claim Ontario as their birthplace.

The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1989 between Canada and the United States (Mexico joined later), ends some opportunities and opens up others. Trade continues to shape Ontario's history, just as it did with the fur business 400 years ago.

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