Which city is the capital of Canada?

Which city is the capital of Canada?

• A. Ottawa
• B. Toronto
• C. Montreal
• D. Vancouver

Answer: (A)

A capital city is the political center where the national government sits. In Canada, that seat of government is Ottawa, located along the Ottawa River between Ontario and Quebec. It houses Parliament Hill, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other key government institutions, which is why it serves as the capital. The choice reflected a balance of regional interests and a defensible location when Canada was forming, and Ottawa became the capital when Confederation occurred in 1867. The other cities—Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver—are all major population and economic centers, but they are not where the national government convenes. So Ottawa is the correct city.

A capital city is the political center where the national government sits. In Canada, that seat of government is Ottawa, located along the Ottawa River between Ontario and Quebec. It houses Parliament Hill, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other key government institutions, which is why it serves as the capital. The choice reflected a balance of regional interests and a defensible location when Canada was forming, and Ottawa became the capital when Confederation occurred in 1867. The other cities—Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver—are all major population and economic centers, but they are not where the national government convenes. So Ottawa is the correct city.