Because Canadians and immigrants crowd into half a dozen major centres. N. Ontario has fewer people today than in it did in 1975. Minuscule population growth in Atlantic Canada. If people don't like high housing prices, it sure hasn't stopped them from moving to these centres. Perhaps Ontario should move the provincial capital to a centre like North Bay to help address the lopsided growth in the province. It might be cheaper than building a one stop subway in Scarborough.