| e only French speaking area in North America, the | | | | the Government.” Federally, the Province |
| Province of Quebec is most certainly unique. | | | | is well represented by the Bloc Quebecois, led by |
| Home to the separate native tribes of the | | | | Gilles Duceppe and most recently held around 51 |
| Abenakis, Algonquian, Attikameks, Cree, | | | | seats in the parliament who as recently as 1995 |
| Huron-Wendats, Innuu, Inuit, Malecites, Micmacs, | | | | held a referendum to declare Quebec’s |
| Mohawks and Naskapis the first western settlers | | | | sovereignty (which was defeated). Now they are |
| arrived in 1534. Jacques Cartier was the first | | | | not so separatist but there are still such rumblings |
| westerner to set foot on the Quebec peninsula | | | | around the Province. |
| and claimed the area for France. Samuel de | | | | Quebec has recently begun to offer some tax |
| Champlain founded the city of Quebec in 1608 | | | | cuts though does add QST at 7.5% that is added |
| with King Louis XIV of France granting the status | | | | AFTER the GST 0f 7% which totals an additional |
| of Royal Province in 1663. | | | | 15% on top of the price of goods you see in the |
| By the early 1700’s the British were a | | | | shops. |
| powerful force in the “Upper | | | | With over 75% of its 7.5 million population French |
| Canada” region and eventually General | | | | speaking, this is the primary language of the |
| Wolfe defeated the French forces defending | | | | Province. English is a distant second placed though |
| Quebec after the famous battle of Abraham | | | | many people are bi lingual. French was passed as |
| Plains. The French finally ceded the rights to New | | | | the official language of Quebec in 1974. |
| France to the British in 1763 and the Province of | | | | Quebec is an extremely historic city and with |
| Quebec joined the Federation in 1867. That | | | | some magnificent architecture is almost 400 |
| wasn’t to be the end of the drama in | | | | years old. The scene of the early struggles of the |
| Quebec as first the “Quiet | | | | Canadians and then the francophone population, |
| Revolution” and then the rise of the | | | | Quebec City certainly offers a unique experience. |
| separatist movement have all led to interesting | | | | With world class cuisine and, the world famous |
| times. Still a major part of Canada with abundant | | | | Château Frontenac, perched atop towering |
| natural resources, Quebec is a truly diverse | | | | Cape Diamond the city promises memories you |
| Province. | | | | will never forget. An exceptional place to live, the |
| The Province of Québec is bordered to | | | | fortified city on the banks of the St Lawrence |
| the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the south by | | | | waterway is a UNESCO world heritage site that |
| the United States and New Brunswick, to the | | | | welcomes over 6 million visitors each year. |
| east by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St. | | | | Montréal is the major city of the Province |
| Lawrence, and to the west by Ontario, the James | | | | with over 3.3 million inhabitants spread throughout |
| and Hudson Bay’s. Covering an enormous | | | | its 19 boroughs with 2 major airports (Trudeau |
| area of well in excess of 1.667 Million square | | | | and Mirabel) and definitely the powerhouse of the |
| Kilometers, Quebec is the largest Province in | | | | Quebec economy. The major aerospace |
| Canada and its land mass is one sixth of | | | | manufacturing plants of Rolls Royce, Bombardier, |
| Canada’s total! With one eighth of the | | | | Dowty and the technical base for Air Canada |
| territory being freshwater, the Province has | | | | serve as major employers. With professional |
| exceptional natural resources and is famous for its | | | | sports teams the Canadiens (ice hockey) and the |
| Hydro electric power generation capacity that | | | | allouettes (CFL) the city is well represented, with |
| feeds the eastern seaboard of North America. | | | | arts a major interest the international jazz festival |
| Over 60% of the area is covered in dense forest. | | | | offers jazz lovers a 2 week experience that is |
| There are four distinct seasons: spring is mild, a | | | | the envy of many cities. |
| normally hot summer, a beautiful fall ( that | | | | Outaouais, - this is a large region that is on the |
| compares well to New England) and a winter that | | | | Quebec side of the Ottawa river just across |
| is white and cold. Seasonal temperatures and | | | | from Ottawa. Many federal civil servants live here |
| vegetation vary depending on the latitude | | | | and cross the river for each work day, living in |
| – Quebec is such a huge landmass that the | | | | the largest residential area of the region, the City |
| extreme north is in the Arctic Circle! Quebec has | | | | of Gatineau. |
| an astounding 27 national parks with the majority | | | | The minimum wage is split into 3 distinct |
| operated by Parcs Quebec, though some are | | | | categories, the general wage is $7.60 per hour, |
| administered by Parks Canada. | | | | the limit for people earning tips is $6.85 and those |
| The province of Quebec is divided into 17 | | | | in the clothing industry is $8.10 – these are |
| separate administrative regions Each | | | | the 2005 rates. There are comprehensive laws |
| administrative region of Québec is | | | | that regulate the employment in Quebec and |
| responsible for providing all services essential to | | | | provide protection and rights for any |
| promoting and maintaining excellent quality of life | | | | employee’s without a standard contract |
| for its citizens. Education, social and health care | | | | or decree. If you are new to the province I would |
| services, sports and leisure activities as well as | | | | recommend you thoroughly understand these |
| transportation fall under the jurisdiction of the | | | | rights and obligations. |
| different levels of government in the region. | | | | The main Quebec economy has a GDP of C$250 |
| Political institutions refer to the National Assembly | | | | million which is built upon several different areas of |
| and the Executive Council, and to municipal | | | | excellence: |
| institutions, the administrative organization of local | | | | Aerospace, IT, Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals |
| municipalities, regional county municipalities (MRC), | | | | provide a strong area of technical expertise. The |
| the Kativik Regional Administration, as well as to | | | | manufacturing industry (Montreal area is especially |
| the Municipal Commission of Québec. | | | | renowned for its transportation manufacturing |
| These institutions represent the seat of decision | | | | – Bombardier for instance) are a major |
| and power in Québec. Québec's | | | | factor in the huge export of goods (82%) into |
| parliamentary system is based on the British | | | | the USA with around1/3rd of the GDP coming |
| model. The National Assembly is composed of 125 | | | | from external trade. |
| members, each elected in a riding under the | | | | The natural resources are huge with 60% of the |
| single-member constituency plurality system. | | | | North American newsprint manufactured from the |
| Established in 1791, the Québec Parliament | | | | lumber in Quebec, mining of gold, iron, titanium, |
| is one of the oldest in the world, aside from the | | | | asbestos, copper, zinc and silver and the |
| British Parliament. It was established just after the | | | | extensive hydro electric power plants. With over |
| US Congress but at the same time as the French | | | | 50,000 new jobs being produced each year and |
| National Assembly. | | | | estimated growth of over 2.5%, Quebec is |
| The last general election was held on April 14, | | | | definitely moving forwards, though the |
| 2003. The Québec Liberal Party, and its | | | | unemployment rate of 9.1% is still fairly high |
| leader Jean Charest, obtained 76 seats and forms | | | | compared to other Canadian provinces. |