Cities of Canada
Cities of Canada includes incorporated municipalities with "city" status under provincial/territorial law and the wider urban regions measured as census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) by Statistics Canada. In everyday usage, “city” often refers to a metropolitan region (e.g., the Toronto area), but legally it refers to a specific municipality created by provincial/territorial legislation.
| Urban system | Legal municipalities (cities, towns, etc.) vs. statistical CMAs/CAs that group adjacent municipalities into one labour market |
|---|---|
| CMA/CA definitions | CMA ≥ 100,000 total (≥ 50,000 in the core); CA ≥ 10,000 in the core (StatsCan definitions) [1] |
| How many (2021) | 41 CMAs and 111 CAs across Canada [2] |
| Urbanization | In 2021, 73.7% of Canadians lived in CMAs (large urban centres) [3] |
What counts as a “city”?
In Canada, a city is a municipal corporation established under provincial or territorial law. Population thresholds and naming rules differ by jurisdiction (some cities were designated historically and may be below modern thresholds). Statistics Canada’s CMA/CA system is separate: it groups one or more municipalities into integrated urban labour markets for analysis. [4]
Largest metropolitan areas (2021 Census)
Top CMAs by population (official 2021 counts).
| Rank | CMA (metropolitan area) | Province(s) | Population (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | Ontario | 6,202,225 |
| 2 | Montréal | Quebec | 4,291,732 |
| 3 | Vancouver | British Columbia | 2,642,825 |
| 4 | Ottawa–Gatineau | Ontario / Quebec | 1,488,307 |
| 5 | Calgary | Alberta | 1,481,806 |
| 6 | Edmonton | Alberta | 1,418,118 |
| 7 | Québec (Quebec City) | Quebec | 839,311 |
| 8 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 834,678 |
| 9 | Hamilton | Ontario | 785,184 |
| 10 | Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | Ontario | 575,847 |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census (CMA counts).[5][6]
Municipal structures and governance
- Amalgamation and two-tier models — Some cities amalgamated former municipalities (e.g., Toronto in 1998), while others operate within two-tier regions or share services through special-purpose bodies.
- Services — Municipalities typically manage local roads, water/wastewater, land use planning, libraries, parks/recreation, and first-response (police, fire, EMS), often with provincial frameworks.
- Transit — Big-city transit is run by municipal agencies or regional authorities. Intercity rail and aviation are federal domains; highways are provincial.
Regional patterns
- Atlantic Canada
Historic ports and provincial capitals (e.g., Halifax), mid-sized cities, and coastal communities.
- Quebec
French-language metros led by Montréal and Québec City; distinct municipal law traditions and planning frameworks.
- Ontario
Dense corridor from Windsor to Ottawa with multiple CMAs (Toronto, Ottawa–Gatineau, Hamilton, Kitchener–Waterloo, London, etc.).
- Prairie Provinces
Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Regina anchor trade and logistics across the plains.
- British Columbia
Pacific urban belt centred on Vancouver, with interior cities along valley corridors.
- Northern Territories
Smaller capitals—Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit—serve as administrative, transport, and cultural hubs for vast regions.
Capitals
The federal capital is Ottawa. Provincial/territorial capitals include: St. John’s, Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Québec, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Victoria, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit. [7]
Growth, housing, and infrastructure (overview)
Population growth is concentrated in CMAs, with fast-growing downtowns in the 2016–2021 period. [8] Urban policy challenges include housing supply and affordability, transit expansion, climate resilience, and integration of newcomers.
See also
- Provinces of Canada • Geography of Canada • Climate of Canada
- Economy of Canada • History of Canada • Travel in Canada
- National parks of Canada • Cities by province (create provincial city lists)
External links (official)
- Statistics Canada — CMA/CA definitions (2021): https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/ref/dict/az/definition-eng.cfm?ID=geo009
- Statistics Canada — CMA/CA counts figure (41 CMAs, 111 CAs): https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/ref/dict/fig/index-eng.cfm?ID=f1_1
- Statistics Canada — 2021 “Large urban centres” Daily release: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220209/dq220209b-eng.htm
- Statistics Canada — 2021 Census Profile (search by CMA): https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm
- Natural Resources Canada — Geographical Names (capitals): https://natural-resources.canada.ca/maps-tools-publications/maps/geographical-names-canada/origin-names-canadas-provincial-territorial-capitals
References
- ↑ Statistics Canada — CMA/CA definition (2021)
- ↑ Statistics Canada — Dictionary figure showing CMA (41) and CA (111)
- ↑ Statistics Canada — Daily release, Feb 9, 2022
- ↑ Statistics Canada — CMA/CA definition (2021)
- ↑ StatsCan — Illustrated Glossary: CMA/CA (includes 2021 CMA counts)
- ↑ Toronto CMA Focus on Geography (example of official CMA population page)
- ↑ Natural Resources Canada — Capitals (origins of names)
- ↑ Statistics Canada — Large urban centres and downtown growth, 2021