The National Capital Region is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighboring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and the surrounding area. Also known as Ottawa-Gatineau (or previously Ottawa-Hull), the National Capital Region has a total population of 1,130,761[1] (2006), and consists of an area of 5,319 square kilometres that straddles the boundary between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The National Capital Region is not a separate political jurisdiction, although the National Capital Commission is deeply involved in political, cultural, and land use planning matters in the National Capital Region. Proposals have sometimes been made to separate the National Capital Region from its two respective provinces, and transform it into a separate administrative area, like the District of Columbia, USA, or the Australian Capital Territory. Such proposals have never come close to passage, and there does not currently appear to be any political will or necessity to pursue this option.
In 2006, the National Capital Commission completed work on the long-discussed "Confederation Boulevard", a ceremonial route linking key attractions in National Capital Region on both sides of the Ottawa River.[2]
The area of the National Capital Region is very similar to that of the Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area, although the National Capital Region contains a number of small neighbouring communities that are not contained within the CMA. When all the Communities are added, the population is 1,229,363.
While not officially in the CMA, the following municipalities (most of which are adjacent to the CMA) are included in the National Capital Region, due to their close economic and social ties with Ottawa.
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