Portraits 2017: Regional Differences in Ontario

Abstract

Most Ontarians believe that urban and rural Canadians have different values. Our new analysis of data from an Ontario-wide survey conducted in November 2017 shows that, on most issues in Ontario, such an urban-rural divide is not evident. On many questions related to public policy choices, we find that the differences in preferences across the province’s regions are either relatively modest, or not reducible to ones between big cities and small towns. Only in a handful of cases – primarily on how local economies are doing and how they are impacted by international trade agreements – do such difference align along urban and rural lines. Much more frequently, the views and values of urban and suburban Ontarians outside Toronto are closer to those of rural Ontarians. Indeed, the most consistent pattern we found is that, on many (but not all) issues, the views and values of Torontonians are an outlier when compared to other regions of the province. This is especially noticeable on issues such as immigration, climate change, and taxes. At the same time, it is important not to exaggerate the extent of these differences. Toronto stands out on many questions but by no means all. And in every case, there are significant numbers of people across all regions who think alike.