Let's say the Golden Horseshoe become a new province "hypothetically, of course."

Which city do you think would be fit for a new capital?

(Post you answer of the poll.)

Mine would be North Bay.

It's eco-friendly, obeseless, beautiful waterfront, great mayor, excellent cityplanning, and benefital transit who wouldn't choose it? If you live in Sudbury would've probably been to North Bay atleast once in your life, and have to agree with me. :cheers:

What's yours and why?

If the Golden Horseshoe became a province the capital would probably be in Southern Ontario, because the Golden Horseshoe is simply a part of Southern Ontario. I imagine either London or Kingston would become the capital. (London because it would be the largest that isn't Ottawa, Kingston because it was historically the capital of Upper Canada)

If Northern Ontario became a separate province, the most suitable capital would be Sault Ste. Marie. It's the most central city, and the oldest permanent settlement in the region. It is also the largest city when you consider that Thunder Bay and Sudbury are both made up of multiple cities (Port Arthur and Fort William for Thunder Bay; Sudbury, New Sudbury, Lively, Copper Cliff, Chelmsford, Azilda, Hanmer, Levack, etc. for Greater Sudbury).

North Bay would be our college town. The cool, liberal, well functioning model city that the rest of the cities try to emulate. Kenora has potential for that but it lacks a university. Sudbury is probably closer to the centre of population but that choice would alienate the Northwest. Sault Ste. Marie is really the only city in the region that has good ties to both the Northeast (because it's located there) and the Northwest (because it is on Lake Superior, which is "ours").

The idea of any community other than the big five being capital is absurd, especially Marathon which is a post WWII factory town that shouldn't really even exist anymore. Timmins, like Thunder Bay, is too far removed to be a suitable capital for the whole region.

If the Golden Horseshoe became a province the capital would probably be in Southern Ontario, because the Golden Horseshoe is simply a part of Southern Ontario. I imagine either London or Kingston would become the capital. (London because it would be the largest that isn't Ottawa, Kingston because it was historically the capital of Upper Canada)

If Northern Ontario became a separate province, the most suitable capital would be Sault Ste. Marie. It's the most central city, and the oldest permanent settlement in the region. It is also the largest city when you consider that Thunder Bay and Sudbury are both made up of multiple cities (Port Arthur and Fort William for Thunder Bay; Sudbury, New Sudbury, Lively, Copper Cliff, Chelmsford, Azilda, Hanmer, Levack, etc. for Greater Sudbury).

North Bay would be our college town. The cool, liberal, well functioning model city that the rest of the cities try to emulate. Kenora has potential for that but it lacks a university. Sudbury is probably closer to the centre of population but that choice would alienate the Northwest. Sault Ste. Marie is really the only city in the region that has good ties to both the Northeast (because it's located there) and the Northwest (because it is on Lake Superior, which is "ours").

The idea of any community other than the big five being capital is absurd, especially Marathon which is a post WWII factory town that shouldn't really even exist anymore. Timmins, like Thunder Bay, is too far removed to be a suitable capital for the whole region.

So basically your putting in that the only suitable cities would be North Bay, Sudbury or the Soo. But out of those three the Soo takes the cake right?

BTW Marathon was mean't to be Elliot Lake I was thinking of Marathon when I was typing. :P :bash:

Elliot Lake is just like Marathon though, except it kept its population up by selling cheap houses to retirees after the mines closed. Marathon had a paper mill to supplement its mines so they didn't put as much effort into reinventing their community. They're probably kicking themselves over it now, although to be honest the idea of becoming a retirement community, to Northwesterners, is quite uniformly hated. Most communities here seem scared of being like Elliot Lake.

Sudbury wouldn't be a bad choice for capital, but Sault Ste. Marie's history and proximity to the Northwest (which has a third of the north's population) make it a better choice than Sudbury. (There is a bit of a rivalry between Suds and TBay as well which would no doubt flare up; though most of my anti-Suds comments are just jokes. :)) North Bay, I think, would lose out if it became the capital. People here hate Toronto because of the actions of Queens Park. I don't think North Bay would want that. It has to stay a cool city.

Elliot Lake is just like Marathon though, except it kept its population up by selling cheap houses to retirees after the mines closed. Marathon had a paper mill to supplement its mines so they didn't put as much effort into reinventing their community. They're probably kicking themselves over it now, although to be honest the idea of becoming a retirement community, to Northwesterners, is quite uniformly hated. Most communities here seem scared of being like Elliot Lake.

Sudbury wouldn't be a bad choice for capital, but Sault Ste. Marie's history and proximity to the Northwest (which has a third of the north's population) make it a better choice than Sudbury. (There is a bit of a rivalry between Suds and TBay as well which would no doubt flare up; though most of my anti-Suds comments are just jokes. :)) North Bay, I think, would lose out if it became the capital. People here hate Toronto because of the actions of Queens Park. I don't think North Bay would want that. It has to stay a cool city.

You know I'm gonig to have to agree with you on that part.

But T-Bay and Sudbury REALLY need to shape themselves up and look alot more like Ottawa and alot less like industrial Detroit. The cities have too much problems I'm sure a temporary capital in say Espanola or another area of N.O should work until they clean themselves up.

I don't know about Sudbury, but Thunder Bay is working on improving the city's environment. We're rebuilding our waterfront and have about 100kms of bike lanes planned among other things. We're lagging a bit on dealing with crime though. There are a few people running for mayor and council who are promising to do something but it's usually "more police and stiffer penalties to deal with crime we let happen" than "reduce poverty to prevent crime from happening".

Sudbury is fortunate in not having a large visible minority group to deal with. Thunder Bay is now 10% aboriginal and their population is growing fast, and most of them live in poverty, which makes them more likely to be involved in crime. Our problems won't go away until we really deal with their poverty. They are moving here for opportunities but not finding it--that has to change.

If Sault is going to be a capital, there is no need for a temporary capital, and Espanola is a really bizarre choice. Why not Kapuskasing? It's bigger.

I don't know about Sudbury, but Thunder Bay is working on improving the city's environment. We're rebuilding our waterfront and have about 100kms of bike lanes planned among other things. We're lagging a bit on dealing with crime though. There are a few people running for mayor and council who are promising to do something but it's usually "more police and stiffer penalties to deal with crime we let happen" than "reduce poverty to prevent crime from happening".

Sudbury is fortunate in not having a large visible minority group to deal with. Thunder Bay is now 10% aboriginal and their population is growing fast, and most of them live in poverty, which makes them more likely to be involved in crime. Our problems won't go away until we really deal with their poverty. They are moving here for opportunities but not finding it--that has to change.

If Sault is going to be a capital, there is no need for a temporary capital, and Espanola is a really bizarre choice. Why not Kapuskasing? It's bigger.

But bigger isn't always better. Also don't forget cities have votes for capitals not just pick. But in which case if it wasn't vote and make sense, adn jsut a choose option. I'd go with Sault Ste. Marie too.

BTW I said Espanola at random. I mean any city could be a temporary capital.

If there was a vote, I imagine Thunder Bay and Sudbury would be split and Sault Ste Marie would work its way up the middle.

You know I'm gonig to have to agree with you on that part.

But T-Bay and Sudbury REALLY need to shape themselves up and look alot more like Ottawa and alot less like industrial Detroit. The cities have too much problems I'm sure a temporary capital in say Espanola or another area of N.O should work until they clean themselves up.

Definitely Espanola should be the new capital as Toronto is completing its slide into becoming like the slums of Detroit. Failing that, the Legislative Building should
all be packed up pronto and shipped to Sudbury! :yes:

If Southern Ontario separates (actually, it's more of Northern Ontario who is wanting to separate), I hope Sault Ste. Marie would be the capital. Because it's gonna be an all-out war between Sudbury and Thunder Bay. The city between them might be a good idea. However, it is too close to the US border, so either Timmins or Kapuskasing might take it (come on, a Canadian province needs a capital in the northern, interior, and isolated part).

Even better would be Moosonee, but there's no road access to that town yet.

Why would proximity to the US be a problem? Victoria is close to the US, too.

Because of the vastness of the region, a well developed airport would be necessary for the capital. Only Thunder Bay and North Bay have airports large enough to handle a major influx of traffic that would come with being a capital. Sault Ste. Marie's airport could be expanded. Sudbury's airport is barely there.

Why would proximity to the US be a problem? Victoria is close to the US, too.

Because of the vastness of the region, a well developed airport would be necessary for the capital. Only Thunder Bay and North Bay have airports large enough to handle a major influx of traffic that would come with being a capital. Sault Ste. Marie's airport could be expanded. Sudbury's airport is barely there.

The problem is though. Can Sault Ste. Marie afford to make airport expansion plans.

Factors to consider:

1) Could the Soo take the pure pressure of a booming and urban sprwaling population for atleast 5-10 yrs.

2) Can they afford to place the extra buildings.

3) Do they even have enough room to place Government buildings without pissing off citizens.

4) Can Sault Ste Marie keeps it culture while be a substantial govermental city?

5) Least but not least, will being the capital get in the way of Soo, MI?

If it does would it be for the better or for the worse?

Sault Ste Marie. Is a good spot no doubt but do the Pros outway the cons?

In reality if it was only the gghs the capital would most likely be London or kingston. if it was all s ontario i would put my money on t bay

Can Sault Ste. Marie afford to make airport expansion plans.

The federal government would likely pitch in. It's a Federal airport.

1) Could the Soo take the pure pressure of a booming and urban sprwaling population for atleast 5-10 yrs.

Thunder Bay has a growth plan that can accommodate an additional 30,000 people in the amount of time it takes for private companies to build the subdivisions that have been laid out. I imagine Sault Ste. Marie would have a similar plan, as would Sudbury.

2) Can they afford to place the extra buildings.

It would be part of a provincial budget. Sault Ste. Marie has land in its suburbs and places downtown that could be redeveloped for offices if necessary.

3) Do they even have enough room to place Government buildings without pissing off citizens.

If it is anything like Thunder Bay there are probably blocks of downtown that people would love to see turned into something other than what they currently are.

4) Can Sault Ste Marie keeps it culture while be a substantial govermental city?

I don't see how being a capital would hurt that culture.

5) Least but not least, will being the capital get in the way of Soo, MI?

If Sault Ste. Marie grows, more people will be going to Soo Michigan to shop. I think it would be a positive force for that city.

Sault Ste Marie. Is a good spot no doubt but do the Pros outway the cons?

I think they do.

A now elderly, old-school guy from North Bay is reviving a Northern Ontario separatist party that he originally founded in 1977 called the Northern Ontario Heritage Party.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ontario_Heritage_Party

Sioux Lookout

Sioux Lookout had the world's second busiest airport in the 1930s!

If Northern Ontario was to leave I say, and voted, for The Soo. It's central and pretty location are the main points.
All that said if GTA was to go then Ontario would be 2 0r 3 new provinces between the North, East, South. Toronto splits the East and the South/West.
The Eastern capitol would be Kingston with Peterborough a potential distant option.
The SW would be a lot harder of a fight. With Burlington gone with the GTA you would basically have 5 metros of between 330,000 to 550,000 namely Niagara, Hamilton, KWC, London, and Windsor. Due to the ensuing battle some smaller cities may present themselves as alternatives such as Sarnia, Brantford, Chatham, Woodstock, or Guelph.
It will result in a lot of competition but I think everyone knows it would be London.

Wawa. Definitely Wawa.

Sioux Lookout had the world's second busiest airport in the 1930s!

Well that seals it for me. Time to start building a new legislature.

I share the same opinion as 8 voters to the Soo.

and what would this province be called? i see "that northern place where everyone thinks no-one lives"

Did you guys know the Moosonee is at the same latitude as London and Berlin? How about building our new capital there? :lol:

Gosh, I'd forgotten this thread! One of Demon's funniest!

Gosh, I'd forgotten this thread! One of Demon's funniest!

:lol: if Ontario is divided in two, we might be seeing the beginning of The Ontarian War...both halves would be fighting over which one would get to keep cottage country and the national capital :lol:

If Ontario divided, it should split into 3-4 parts not 2. Northern Ontario alone is massive; break it in 3. One could have a capital in Thunder Bay, the next one over in the Soo, and then the next in Sudbury.

Northern Ontario in three parts would likely be politically weaker than it is now.

Did someone go thread searching for an interesting topic and find this on like the last page? :D

If Ontario divided, it should split into 3-4 parts not 2. Northern Ontario alone is massive; break it in 3. One could have a capital in Thunder Bay, the next one over in the Soo, and then the next in Sudbury.

So divide a barely populated area into three very barely populated areas?

is this a real idea, or is this just for fun. i think its a very good idea.