Final answer:
The heartland of Canada is commonly identified as the central provinces of Ontario and Quebec due to their population density, economic activities, and the concentration of primary industries, not the fast-growing regions of the west, the resource frontier of the Territorial North, or slow-growing Atlantic Canada.
Step-by-step explanation:
Canada's heartland consists primarily of the central provinces of Ontario and Quebec, which are the country's most populous and economically dominant regions. Western Canada and British Columbia, although fast-growing, are not traditionally considered the heartland. The resource frontier in the Territorial North, while rich in natural resources, is also not the heartland due to its sparse population and less economic development compared to central Canada. Likewise, slow-growing Atlantic Canada, characterized by the Maritime Provinces, is known for its fishing and agriculture but does not define the heartland either.
The heartland concept typically refers to the economic and demographic core of a country where the primary industries, population densities, and economic activities are situated. For Canada, this includes the manufacturing and service industries of Ontario and the cultural significance and industries such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, and biotechnology in Quebec.