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Encyclopedia :
G :
GR :
GRE :
Greater Toronto Area |
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Greater Toronto AreaThe Greater Toronto Area (called the GTA by local residents) is the largest metropolitan area in Canada and fifth largest in North America, after Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago. The GTA is centred around Toronto, with a population of about 5,800,000 (2005). In addition to the City of Toronto, it includes four distinct Regional Municipalities (plus some other municipalities in two other counties) The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is one of North America's fastest-growing regions. As an economic area, the GTA consists of 25 municipalities and four regions in a total area of over 7,000 square kilometers with a population of 5 million. With a work force of approximately 2.9 million people, more than 100,000 companies and a US $109 billion gross domestic product, the GTA is Canada's undisputed business and manufacturing capital. From its thriving business climate to its lucrative markets, from its modern transportation and telecommunications to its talented human resources, the GTA rivals the greatest economic regions of the world. A recent report by KPMG, Competitive Alternatives 2002, found that the GTA has overall business costs that were lower than most of the international cities reviewed in the study. The GTA is home to an impressive number of postsecondary educational institutions, including 4 universities and 7 colleges. Its safety, cleanliness and ethnic diversity, combined with racial harmony, set it apart from other large urban centers. The GTA is consistently ranked as one of the urban areas with the best quality of life in the world. Some municipalities are not within the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), but are within the Greater Toronto Area Association of Municipalities (GTAAM). Likewise, some municipalities are not part of the GTAAM but part of the Toronto CMA. Some municipalities, such as Barrie, are in neither the GTAAM nor CMA but still considered part of the GTA by local residents. The official list of GTA is much smaller and less spread out. Ultimately, all the the mentioned municipalities will be a part of the Greater Golden Horsehoe. The following regional governments are often included in the Greater Toronto Area, under either the GTAAM, the Toronto CMA or unofficially but with close ties to Toronto:
Cities 8 Towns 18 Township 5 Municipality 1 Total 32
Toronto and the GTA are served by six distinct area codes. It is often thought that Toronto itself is area code 416, while the Greater Toronto Area is area code 905. This division by area code has become part of the local culture to the point where local media would refer to something inside Toronto as "The 416s" and outside of Toronto as "The 905s." Though for the most part this was correct, it isn't entirely true as some portions of Durham Region are area code 705, and some portions of Peel Region are area code 519. Things became even more complicated by the addition of two overlay area codes in the area with 647 being overlaid on 416 in March, 2001 and 289 on 905 in July, 2001. 10-digit telephone dialing, including the area code for local calls, is required throughout all of the GTA as well as Hamilton and Niagara. Most of the GTA is served by GO Transit, a regional transportation authority that connects Toronto's suburban areas to its downtown. External links
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