About

Quebecers

Nature lovers

Quebecers are outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy reconnecting with their roots. Québec’s plentiful green spaces in the heart or within proximity of large urban areas make it a perfect place to commune with nature. What could be better than a relaxing getaway or a sports outing to re-energize and escape from the daily grind?

Culinary artisans

Quebecers appreciate good food and their conviviality finds no better form of expression than during a pleasant meal with the family or among friends at a restaurant.

Contemporary Québec cuisine is solidly grounded in French gastronomy and influenced by the knowledge of the Aboriginal peoples, Anglo-Saxon culinary customs and the cooking practices of many cultural communities: smoked fish, game, fine cheeses, ice ciders and foie gras poutine are popular menu items.

Festive

Quebecers are known for their festive spirit. Major cultural and sporting events, urban festivals and charming village celebrations – there’s always a good reason to party and share happy times!

Égalitarian

Women in Québec are, unquestionably, women who achieve their full potential. They owe that status to the women who came before them and fought for women’s rights in Québec: Marie Lacoste-Gérin-Lajoie, Idola Saint-Jean, Thérèse Casgrain, Simonne Monet-Chartrand and Lise Payette, to name but a few of those remarkable trailblazers.

Québec women are career-oriented and capable, but also devoted mothers, friends and lovers who are eminently educated, independent and free spirited.

Environmentally responsible

Because Quebecers are concerned about major global issues, they have adopted locally green-friendly habits on an everyday basis.

Quebecers promote local products and services and have a preference for those that are minimally disruptive to the environment. They tend to favour more sustainable means of transportation and attach growing importance to the environmental commitment of organizations.

Parenting: a fundamental role

For Quebecers, parenting means first and foremost being there for their families because time is not something you can buy. That’s why Québec society is built on the premise that all Quebecers should have as much latitude and flexibility as possible in terms of their professional obligations so that they can spend time with their loved ones.

Parental leave, a Parental Insurance Plan, flexible hours and telecommuting are some of the measures that have been introduced to enable families in Québec to simply be together.

Society

Québec’s social fabric reflects the solidarity, empathy and desire for equality that inspire and drive the evolution of Québec society. Perhaps that explains why Quebecers are said to be a “tightly-knit” people.

A public and accessible health care and social services system

Based on a public health insurance and prescription drug insurance plan, the health care system enables the entire population to receive free hospital and medical services and have basic drug coverage.

For additional information on eligibility for benefits, coverage, costs and drugs covered, visit the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec website.

An accessible and exceptional education system

• Tuition fees for university studies are among the lowest in North America
• Education that meets the highest standards

This system’s accessibility and excellence make it truly outstanding and are invaluable assets for Québec society.

Study in Québec

A parliamentary democracy

Québec’s political system is based on the British model.

The foundation of democratic life lies in the balanced exercise of three distinct powers:

1. Legislative (laws and regulations)
2. Executive (government)
3. Judicial (courts)

A effective social safety net

The entire society contributes to the enviable quality of life of every Quebecer via an array of assistance programs.

• Parental Insurance Plan
• Daycare services
• Employment Insurance
• Québec Pension Plan
• Old Age Security Pension

A society based on the rule of law and equality

Québec is a democratic society based on the rule of law. All individuals are equal in value and dignity and are entitled to the same legal protection.

Quebecers attach great importance to freedom of expression, equality among people and respect for differences. Québec laws protecting these values form a consensus and ensure that all citizens have the right to express themselves and freely choose their lifestyle, opinions, religion, and more.

A society that takes the environment to heart

Québec was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to adopt a law on sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Act promotes a concerted vision, coherent actions and empowerment and accountability for all government departments and agencies. The Government Sustainable Development Strategy 2015–2020 sets out priorities and objectives with regard to the government’s sustainable development actions between now and 2020. Québec’s sustainable development actions are in keeping with the international 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to make Québec greener, fairer and more prosperous.

Montreal-Burlington electric corridor

As a result of unique collaboration between Québec and Vermont, this North-South route will make 40 public charging terminals over a distance of 200 kilometers available to electric vehicle drivers.

Québec was the first federated state in North America to introduce a fuel tax to fund its actions in the fight against climate change. In 2013, it implemented a cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions allowances in cooperation with its partners in the Western Climate Initiative. On January 1, 2014, Québec linked its cap and trade system to California’s, effectively creating the largest carbon market in North America. Ontario plans to join the Québec–California carbon market in 2018.

French

A French-speaking nucleus in America

• 42% of French speakers in America live in Québec
• 95% of Quebecers know French
• 82% of Quebecers speak French at home

A welcoming language

Choosing Québec means choosing to live in a French-speaking society. To facilitate the integration of newcomers, the Québec government makes French courses available.

A French-speaking society in North America

Québec is the only society in North America with a French-speaking majority and currently has a population of roughly eight million people from different ethno-linguistic and socio-cultural groups.

A language with an affirmed and protected status

The Charter of the French Language ensures the promotion of French throughout Québec. It defines the status of the language and linguistic rights.

The Charter’s guarantees include the right to work in French, the right to education in French and the right of consumers to be informed and served in French. Furthermore, the Charter ensures the protection and promotion of French with due regard for English-speaking Quebecers, Allophones and Aboriginal peoples.

A legitimate international voice

Québec is considered to be among the most active members of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).

It is also one of the five major funders of the Organization which comprises 84 States and governments. This is all the more remarkable since the OIF is the only multilateral government organization where Québec has full-fledged membership.

The face of La Francophonie

Michaëlle Jean was elected as Secretary General of La Francophonie at the end of the 15th Summit of La Francophonie, which was held in Dakar on November 30, 2014. She was born in 1957 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and immigrated to Canada in 1968 with her family to escape the dictatorial regime in power at the time. Québec later became her adopted home.
The Secretary General heads the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) of which she is the legal representative.
 

Québec's Territory

3% of the planet’s fresh water

The St. Lawrence River runs through Québec. The territory is also dotted with over one million lakes and watercourses.

10% of Québec is covered by bodies of fresh water, making it one of the world’s largest freshwater reserves: 3% of the planet’s renewable freshwater reserves are located in Québec.

A gateway to America

Firmly rooted in Québec’s traditions and history, the St. Lawrence is considered a true symbol of Québec society. Today, most of Québec’s roughly eight million inhabitants live along its banks.

Stretching over a distance of 1,200 km, the St. Lawrence River is among the world’s largest navigable waterways and the largest in North America. It provides direct access to the heart of the continent year round.

Forests

Forests cover nearly half of Québec’s land area – the equivalent of Sweden and Norway combined. They account for 20% of Canada’s forests and 2% of the world’s forests.

Wildlife

From moose to belugas, snowy owls to beavers, close to 650 animal species, including 90 mammal and 300 bird species, inhabit Québec’s carefully preserved territory.

Many of these species can be observed in the wild or by chance while hiking in the woods or in national parks and wildlife reserves.

A land of contrasts

Quebecers’ lives revolve around four very distinct seasons. Québec’s climate is characterized by considerable differences in temperature and varies from one region to another depending on latitude, terrain and maritime influence.

Ranging from 30° C in mid-July to −25° C in winter, Québec’s climate is varied enough to suit all tastes.

Did You Know?

The Fleurdelisé: A Reflection of Québec’s History in America

The Québec flag, known as the Fleurdelisé, became the official flag of Québec when it was first flown on the Parliament Building tower on January 21, 1948.

The flag’s design and colours are engraved in Québec’s centuries-old history in America. The fleur-de-lis that appears on the Québec flag was already one of the world’s oldest emblems, but Jacques Cartier was the first to use it as an emblem in America.

The planet’s third largest freshwater reserve

With its 4,500 rivers and half a million lakes, Québec is home to 3% of the planet’s renewable freshwater reserves.

Québec’s forest area accounts for 2% of the world’s

Covering over 750,000 km², the area covered by Québec’s forests is equivalent to Sweden and Norway combined.

Around the Earth three times

If all the lines in Québec’s electricity transmission network were laid end to end, they would be able to wrap around the globe three times at the Equator.

Québec has one of the most extensive electricity transmission networks in North America. It comprises over 30,000 km of high-tension lines in addition to 100,000 km of distribution lines that relay electricity to consumers in Québec.

From 30 °C in July to −25 °C in January

Québec is a land of contrasts: Québec’s climate is characterized by considerable differences in temperature that vary depending on season and location.

Cirque du Soleil: A feather in Québec’s cap!

Founded in Québec in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is known for the superb artistic quality of its shows.

Although the Cirque has attracted over 100 million spectators around the word since its creation, its shows always make their world premieres in Québec.

Internationally acclaimed films

Films by Québec directors Jean-Marc Vallée and Denis Villeneuve have garnered major international recognition.

In 2014, Dallas Buyers Club, directed by Quebecer Jean-Marc Vallée, was nominated for Oscars in six categories, including Best Film. In the past years, the Québec films Incendies(Denis Villeneuve), Monsieur Lazhar (Philippe Falardeau) and Rebelle (Kim Nguyen) were also finalists for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Building airplanes from A to Z

Montréal is one of the few places in the world where an aircraft can be built from A to Z, making it one of the world’s three major aerospace hubs along with Seattle and Toulouse. Virtually all the components required to build a plane are manufactured within a 30-km radius of Montréal.

Home to major festivities and events

A wide array of nearly 550 festivals, celebrations and events are held in Québec each year.

In summer and winter alike, Québec is home to over 100 festivals of all kinds annually, from film and dance to theatre and comedy, not to mention all the major sports events held in Montréal each year.

The largest jazz festival on the planet

The Montréal International Jazz Festival is the world’s largest jazz festival. For over 31 years, the Festival has been attracting more than 2.5 million visitors and presenting over 800 concerts — two-thirds of which are free.

The world's biggest winter carnival

Since 1955, the Québec City Winter Carnival has been organizing the world’s biggest winter festival in the heart of Québec City – North America’s only walled city. Québec has still more to offer people who love having a good time, even in winter. Thousands of electronic music lovers gather in Montréal’s Old Port to dance the night away under the stars during Igloofest.

Where business and creativity converge

Montréal is now home to C2MTL, an annual global event where the world’s foremost economic and creative powerhouses meet to share their knowledge in a collaborative and innovative environment.

C2MTL is reinventing the business conference concept by stimulating participants not simply through speaker presentations but also via exhibitions, conceptual venues, screenings, workshops and parties. The event’s very essence lies in its experiential founding pillars: inspiration, connection, experimentation, celebration.