Province of Toronto

A Province of Toronto is the goal of many urban politicians and citizens' groups in Toronto, who run candidates for office to promote the idea of separating Toronto's 2.4 million residents politically from Ontario and the suburban 'Greater Toronto Area', which they see as politically and economically exploiting the city. For details, see Toronto and Culture and politics of Toronto.

Prominent advocates of a Province of Toronto are current Mayor Mel Lastman, second-runner Tooker Gomberg, urban activist Jane Jacobs, current mayoral candidate Paul Lewin (www.provinceoftoronto.ca), entrepreneur Edward Mirvish, councillors David Miller and Michael Walker, former councillor and current MPP for Beaches East-York Michael Prue, and former mayor John Sewell. Prominent opponents are Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, former Premier Mike Harris and current MPP for Etobicoke Chris Stockwell and councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski.

There is considerable debate on the level of government that is appropriate to approve, or veto, the formation of a new province out of the territory of existing Ontario.

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Within the Roman Catholic Church, the Province of Toronto is the Area under the juristiction of the Archbishop of Toronto. It includes the Greater Toronto Area (except Clarington), Western Ontario, and Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Rainy River districts in Northern Ontario.