Ontario is the biggest province and since they, unlike most other provinces, don't use RCMP for hiway patrol the hitcher has to keep an eye out for the dreaded OPP.

They're not fun guys and they bother EVERY HIKER ON EVERY HIWAY ALL THE TIME...freeways or not.

Now it's not hard to catch rides thru - out Ontario except the following places:
WAWA - that little town with the big duck sculpture outside it.
TILBURY - I once had a GREYHOUND BUS I HAD A TICKET FOR WHIZ BY THE STATION AT 'MIKE's VARIETY" - 'variety' is Ontarian for 'convenience store'

It's way illegal for definite like sure to walk on the freeway in Ontario but sadly it's also the fastest way from Toronto to Quebec.
I'm gonna hip you to something that will make anybody traveling from Toronto to points east easier, it's called GO transit - long distance commuter buses usually less than 10 dollars CDN (a major transfer station for them is near the 'York' subway station (it's a real headache saver...)
A *really* good exit on the 401 is *Bowmanville* around 2-5 pm.

MAJOR CONCERT VENUE:
Molson Ampitheatre and sports arenas are accesible on transit.
Also Greyhound in Canada is a helluva lot cheaper than US.
For example: IF the bus actually stops in say Windsor or Tilbury (the road to a li'l town called London) it's only like $25.00 to Toronto (the same trip in Canadian dollars is approximately Detroit to Syracuse & would cost OVER $50 US (3-4 times as much).
While I don't LIKE Greyhound I have to give 'em 'props' (whatever those are) for their CDN prices...

Mostly francophones east of Ottawa on that highway so communication may be difficult but you'll get there...
I once got across Ontario in under 9 hrs, but I've also had it take around 2-3 days...
I'd avg that out to about a day & half...

There are a LOT of skeeters on the northern tier transcanada run tho...reasonably friendly people.
Cheap hotels in London - near the Wal-mart.
I bought a pair of 'backroad blues' brand jeans there (don't ask).
Higher sales tax than most provinces tho, so adjust your accounting accordingly...

And finally, people drive faster in Ontario and trucks are heavier, also they only use gravel on the shoulders of the highways so expect to be coated w/dust and pelted w/stones by accident a LOT.

The little coffee shops in the MIDDLE dividers of the 401 are good palces to catch rides without getting flogged by pebbles from under car tires but they take a while longer than on-ramps...
good luck...

coolness: 50 (Ontarians practically ALWAYS buy you lunch whether you need it or not...) *burp*

Write to Legendary Rob.