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 ONTARIO

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ONTABIO

undum, graphite, gypsum, marble, mica, salt, and silver are also found.

Forests. — The forest area is estimated at 102,000 sq. miles. The Department of Forests and Mines estimates that there is still standing on unlicensed Crown lands 13,500,000,000 feet of red and white pine, and 300,000,000 cords of spruce, jack-pine, and poplar, suitable for pulp-wood; and on licensed lands, 7,000,- 000 feet of timber. The output for 1910 was 605,- 000,000 feet b. m. of pine: of other woods 95,000,000 feet; of square timber 308,000 cubic feet ; of pulp-wood, 138,000 cords; of cord-wood, 40,000 cords; and of rail- way ties, 3,800,000 pes. The province has an en- lightened system of reforestation.

Forest Reserves cover 17,860 sq. miles, containing it is estimated, 7,000,000,000 feet of pine. There are two large provincial parks, Rondeau in the south-west, and Algon(|uin in the north-west of old Ontario.

I\Ianuf.\ctdres. — The manufacturing output of Ontario is greater than that of any other Canadian province. For 1905 (the last return available) its value was $361,372,741. It is now considerably greater.

Fisheries. — The value of the commercial fisheries in 1908 was $2,100,079. The opportunities for sport are excellent, the trout-fishing in the Nepigon being exceptionally fine. Northern Ontario is much re- sorted to by sportsmen in the hunting season.

Waters. — In addition to the Great Lakes there are countless inland lakes of much beauty and utihty, the largest. Lakes Nepigon, Nipissing, Simcoe, and the Lake of the Wootls. Innumerable rivers and water- courses furnish abundant natural power, little of it developed. A hydro-electric government commission with municipal co-operation, supplies electric power from Niagara Falls throughout the south-west. This commission is charged with the development and supplying of power in other parts of the province.

Tourist Resorts. — Niagara Falls, the Thousand Islands in the St. LawTence, the Thirty Thousand Islands in the Georgian Bay, the Muskoka Lakes, and the Lake of the Woods are famous.

Railways and Canals. — Ontario is covered by a network of railways, principally operated by the Grand Trunk, the Canadian Pacific, and the Canadian Northern. Now traversed by one transcontinental railway, it will shortly be crossed by two others. The mileage in 1909 was 8229. The St. Lawrence Canals, the Welland Canal, overcoming the fall of 326 feet in the Niagara River, and the great lock at Sault Sainte Marie permit of navigation from Montreal to the head of Lake Superior, about 1400 miles. The Rideau and the Trent Valley canals are also works of importance. All canals are free.

Constitution and Government. — The constitu- tion of the province is found in the British North America .■Vet, 1867 (Imperial). Although its legisla- tive powers are confined to enumerated subjects, the constitution being "similar in principle to that of the United Kingdom", legislative jurisdiction over the matter assigned to it, except education, is restricted only by the limitation, that provincial enactments must not clash with Imperial statutes made applicable to the province, or with legislation of the Parliament of Canada within the field assigned to it.

Legislature. — The legislature consists of a lieuten- ant-governor, appointed and paid by the Government of Canada, and a single chamber of 106 members elected for four years. The party system prevails. The franchise is on a manhood suffrage basis. Ontario has 86 members in the Dominion House of Commons, consisting of 221 members, and 24 in the Senate, of which the membership is 87.

Executive. — The executive is directly responsible to the Legislative Assembly, in which it must always command a majority. It consists at present of a prime minister and ten colleagues. The ministers

holding portfolios are : the president of the council (at present the prime minister), the attorney-general, the secretary and registrar, the treasurer, the minister of lands, forests, and mines, the minister of agriculture, the minister of pubhc works, and the minister of edu- cation.

Judiciary. — The Constitutional Act assigns to the province "the constitution, maintenance, and organ- ization of the provincial courts", civil and criminal, and to the Dominion the appointment and remunera- tion of judges. Judges of the superior courts are ap- pointed for hfe. Those of the county and district courts must retire at the age of eighty. The province appoints surrogate court judges, police magistrates, and justices of the peace. The Supreme Court of Judicature comprises the Court of Appeal, with five judges, and the High Court, with twelve judges. The county and district judges have limited powers as local judges of the High Court. In the Division Courts (small debt) they try claims, ascertained by signature up to $200, upon contract up to $100, and other per- sonal claims up to $60. In the County and District courts they have jurisdiction, speaking generally, in actions upon contract up to $800, in other personal actions up to $500, and in actions respecting rights of property, where the value of the property affected does not exceed $500. Unless the defendant disputes jurisdiction, these courts may deal with any civil case whatever the amount involved. The jurisdiction of the High Court is unlimited. In important cases an appeal lies from the provincial court of appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, or to the Judicial Commit- tee of the Imperial Privy Council.

Officials. — Sheriffs, court officers. Division Court bailiffs, etc., are appointed by the provincial govern- ment.

Municipal System. — The municipal system is based on American models. Municipal government is car- ried on by councils and presiding officers elected by pop- ular vote. In large urban centres. Boards of Control elected by the municipalities at large have extensive powers. The councils appoint the administrative officers.

Religion. — There is no State church. Legally all religions are on a footing of equality. Legislation, however, is based on the fundamental principles of Cliristian morahty. Sessions of the House of As- sembly open with prayers read by the Speaker. Blas- phemous libels, the obstruction of, or offering violence to, officiating clergymen, and disturbance of meetings for religious worship are criminal offences. Sunday is strictly observed.

Exemptions. — places of worship and lands used in connexion therewith, churchyards and burying- grounds, and buildings and grounds of educational and charitable institutions are exempt from taxation. Clergymen are exempt from jury iuty and military service.

Incorporation. — ReUgious organizations can readily obtain incorporation, with liberal powers of acquiring and holding real estate. Land may be given for " char- itable uses", by deed made more than six months be- fore the grantor's death, or by will, but must be sold within two years, unless the High Court, being satis- fied that it is required for actual occupation for the purpose of the charity, sanctions its retention. All Catholic church property is vested in the bishop of the diocese who is a statutory corporation sole.

Catholicism. — In 1763 the few French settlers were Cathohcs. Immigration from the United States after 1783 was almost exclusively Protestant. Some Scotch Cathohcs settled in Glengarry, and a considerable number of Irish Catholics, principally after the War of 1812 and particularly from 1847 to 1851, in various parts of Ontario. The See of Kingston, established in 1826, included the entire province. Rt. Rev. Alex. Macdonell was the first bishop. Kingston became an