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{{about|the province|the city bearing the same name|Quebec City}}
'''[https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca Quebec]''' ([[French phrasebook|French]]: ''Québec'') is a province in [[Canada]], the largest in size and second only to [[Ontario]] in population. French is the first language of a majority of Quebecois and the sole official language of the province, making it the only Canadian province that is officially monolingual in French. The provincial capital of Quebec is [[Quebec City]] is known for its beautiful and well preserved walled city, while the province's largest city is [[Montreal]], is cosmopolitan and the second largest city in Canada.
 
While mostly surrounded by English-speaking lands, Quebec is one of the few parts of [[North America]] with a preserved French heritage and language.
 
While nearly all of the 8 million inhabitants live in southern Quebec, on the plains along the St Lawrence River, the majority of the province consists of sub-arctic forests, where most of the inhabitants belong to the [[Indigenous cultures of North America|First Nations]] or Inuit.
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==Other destinations==
[[File:QC - Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre (seitlich).jpg|thumb|right|Basilica of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre]]
* {{marker|type=vicinity|name=[[Anticosti]]|wikidata=Q575033}} – sparsely-populated world heritage-listed island
* {{marker|name=[[Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré]]|wikidata=Q141927}} - large, elaborate church east of Quebec City, near Montmorency Falls and the pastoral [[Île d'Orléans]]
* {{marker|type=vicinity|name=[[Sept-ÎlesMiguasha National Park]]|wikidata=Q141699Q631128}} -– departureworld pointheritage forprovincial thepark railway to [[Labrador City]] andon the ferryGaspé to [[Anticosti]]Peninsula
* {{marker|type=vicinity|name=[[Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré]]|wikidata=Q141927}} - large, elaborate church east of Quebec City, near Montmorency Falls and the pastoral [[Île d'Orléans]]
* {{marker|type=vicinity|name=[[Sept-Îles]]|wikidata=Q141699}} - departure point for the railway to [[Labrador City]] and the ferry to [[Anticosti]]
 
==Understand==
Line 89 ⟶ 91:
Quebec is Canada’s second most populous province, only behind Ontario. It has 8 million inhabitants, including 6.4 million (approx. 80%) whose mother tongue is French.
 
French is the mother tongue of 82% of Quebecers (''Québécois''), and English is the mother tongue of 10% of the population. The remaining 8% is divided among "Allophones" who speak some 30 languages such as, in order of importance, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Greek in order of importance. The northernindigenous partsInuit ofpeople themainly provinceinhabit arethe mainlynorthern populatedparts byof the indigenous Inuit peopleprovince. However, it is very easy to travel in Quebec speaking only English, especially in Montreal, Gatineau and to a lesser extent, Quebec City. In fact, overOver 40% of the population is bilingual. In major cities like Montréal, this percentage is as high as 64%, and 16% of the population speaks a third language. As in any country, beginning a conversation in the local language is always a great way of making friends. Quebecers appreciate efforts made to speak French.
 
The majority of the population lives in the vicinity of the St. Lawrence River's vicinity, in the southern portion of the province. The population is largely urbanized; close tonearly 50% of Quebecers live in the metropolitan area of Montreal.
 
===Politics===
 
 
 
Quebec has a longstanding social democratic tradition since the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s; until 2018, power was shared between the federalist (i.e. wishing to stay in Canada) and centrist Liberal Party and the separatist and centre-left Parti Quebecois.
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Today, politics are dominated by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which while having supported many economically left or interventionist policies, is said by experts to be centre-right. While not separatist, the CAQ is nationalist and wants Quebec to have more autonomy within Canada.
 
Other major parties include the Liberal Party (recognized for its centrism, federalism, and supporting the Anglophone and Allophone minorities), the left-wing nationalist and seperatistseparatist Québec solidaire, and the separatist and centre-left Parti Quebecois. The Parti Quebecois, and to a lesser extent the Liberal Party, are losing considerable ground, although the Liberals can still count on the votes of minorities, allowing them to remain influential, and the city of [[Montreal]] continues to be a Liberal stronghold.
 
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a new party emerged in opposition to the COVID-19 lockdown and the vaccines mandates; the Conservative Party of Quebec is a right-wing party that wants to defend economic and individual freedoms.
 
===Climate===
Line 113 ⟶ 111:
* Winter (November to end of March): Quebec’s extremely low temperatures and abundance of snowfall makes skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, snowmobiling and dogsledding possible. In late November, Quebec’s vast outdoors turns into a snow-covered white dreamland. March and April mark the maple syrup festivities in the sugar shacks, as the maple trees awaken from the winter cold and prepare for the forthcoming springtime.
* Spring (April and May): While April may still be relatively cold at times and another large snowfall can occur, April feels like winter is at, long last, over. As May approaches, nature awakens, trees start to bloom and the air warms, welcoming everybody to a magnificent, colourful outdoor scenery.
 
===Tourist information ===
* [https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca Bonjour Quebec] Tourism website
 
==Talk==
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===By train===
{{Seealso|Rail travel in Canada|}}
 
* {{listing
* {{Listing|name=Amtrak|url=https://www.amtrak.com/home|directions=|phone=+1-215-856-7924|tollfree=+1-800-872-7245|lastedit=2022-07-04|content="Adirondack" runs from [[New York City]] once a day, with stops connecting to bus routes serving upstate [[New York (state)|New York]]. The trip is a scenic 6 hours along the Hudson River, but be prepared for delays at the border that can add 2–3 hours to the trip.}}
| name=Amtrak | alt= | url=https://www.amtrak.com/home | email=
* {{Listing|name=Tshiuetin Rail Transportation|url=https://www.tshiuetin.net/|email=billetterie@tshiuetin.ca|phone=+1 418-960-0982|hours=+1-866-962-0988|lastedit=2022-05-06|content=Operates a train route between [[Sept-Îles]] and [[Schefferville]] via Emeril, [[Labrador]].}}
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
* {{listing|name=VIA Rail Canada|alt=|url=https://www.viarail.ca/|email=|address=|lat=|long=|directions=|phone=|tollfree=+1-888-842-7245|hours=|price=|lastedit=2022-04-30|content=Operates trains routes across [[Canada]].}} VIA Rail Canada is the federal passenger train operator. It operates numerous the following train routes into Quebec:
| phone=+1-215-856-7924 | tollfree=+1-800-872-7245
** [[The Ocean]] between [[Montreal]] and [[Halifax]] via Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City) and [[Moncton]]. Three trains per direction per week.
| hours= | price=
** Between [[Toronto]] and Montreal via [[Kingston (Ontario)|Kingston]]. Several trains daily.
| wikipedia=Amtrak | wikidata=Q23239
** Between [[Ottawa]] and [[Quebec City]] via Montreal. Several trains daily.
| lastedit=2022-07-04
| content="Adirondack" runs from [[New York City]] once a day, with stops connecting to bus routes serving upstate [[New York (state)|New York]]. The trip is a scenic 6 hours along the Hudson River, but be prepared for delays at the border that can add 2–3 hours to the trip.
}}
* {{listing
| name=Tshiuetin Rail Transportation | alt= | url=https://www.tshiuetin.net/ | email=billetterie@tshiuetin.ca
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1 418-960-0982 | tollfree=
| hours=+1-866-962-0988 | price=
| wikipedia=Tshiuetin Rail Transportation | wikidata=Q114149569
| lastedit=2022-05-06
| content=Operates a train route between [[Sept-Îles]] and [[Schefferville]] via Emeril, [[Labrador]].
}}
* {{listing
| name=VIA Rail Canada | alt= | url=https://www.viarail.ca/ | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=+1-888-842-7245
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Via Rail | wikidata=Q876720
| lastedit=2022-04-30
| content=Operates trains routes across [[Canada]].
}} VIA Rail Canada is the federal passenger train operator. It operates numerous the following train routes into Quebec:
** [[The Ocean]] between [[Montreal]] and [[Halifax]] via Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City) and [[Moncton]]. Three trains per direction per week.
** Between [[Toronto]] and Montreal via [[Kingston (Ontario)|Kingston]]. Several trains daily.
** Between [[Ottawa]] and [[Quebec City]] via Montreal. Several trains daily.
** Significant discounts are available to youths and to university students carrying as ISIC Card (International Student Identity Card).
 
Line 187 ⟶ 212:
| phone=+1 214-849-8100 | tollfree=+1-800-231-2222
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Greyhound Lines | wikidata=Q755309
| lastedit=2021-11-09
| content=From [[Boston]] and [[New York City]] to [[Montreal]].
}}
From [[Ontario]]
* {{listing
* {{Listing|name=Megasbus|alt=Coach Canada|url=https://ca.megabus.com/|tollfree=+1-866-488-4452|lastedit=2022-04-22|content=Operates frequent motorcoach service from [[Toronto]] to Montreal.}}
| name=Megabus | alt=Coach Canada | url=https://ca.megabus.com/ | email=
* {{go|name=Orléans Express|alt=|url=https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/|email=|address=|lat=|long=|directions=|phone=+1-450-640-1477|tollfree=+1-833-449-6444|hours=|price=|lastedit=2022-04-22|content=Service from [[Ottawa]] to [[Montreal]].}} Tour Express and Autobus Maheux also provide service from Ottawa to Montréal.
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=+1-866-488-4452
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Megabus (North America) | wikidata=Q6808155
| lastedit=2022-04-22
| content=Operates frequent motorcoach service from [[Toronto]] to Montreal.
}}
* {{go
| name=Orléans Express | alt= | url=https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/ | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1-450-640-1477 | tollfree=+1-833-449-6444
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Orléans Express | wikidata=Q3356500
| lastedit=2022-04-22
| content=Service from [[Ottawa]] to [[Montreal]].
}} Tour Express and Autobus Maheux also provide service from Ottawa to Montréal.
* There is also limited transportation service from Ottawa into Grand-Remous, Que. via '''[http://www.autobusgatineau.com/horaires_tarifs.html Autobus Gatineau]''', as well as from North Bay, Ontario. into Rouyn-Noranda via '''[https://autobusmaheux.qc.ca/ Autobus Maheux]'''.
* Within [[Ottawa]]-[[Gatineau]] interprovincial travel is possible by local bus. Multiple STO (Outaouais) buses stop in Ottawa-Lowertown, follow Wellington Street past Parliament Hill then take the Pont du Portage back into Hull. [https://www.octranspo.com/images/files/routes/085map.gif OCTranspo 85] stops at Terrasses de la Chaudière in Hull. Additional buses run during peak hours.
From [[New Brunswick]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Prince Edward Island]]
* {{go
* {{go|name=Maritime Bus|alt=|url=http://www.maritimebus.com/en/|email=info@maritimebus.com|address=|lat=|long=|directions=|phone=|tollfree=+1-800-575-1807|hours=|price=|lastedit=2022-04-24|content=Operates an intercity bus service between destinations in [[Nova Scotia]], [[New Brunswick]], and [[Prince Edward Island]]. <!-- A route enters [[Quebec]], but is suspended as of June 2022.-->}} It operates services to the following destinations served by [https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/ Orléans Express]:
| name=Maritime Bus | alt= | url=https://www.maritimebus.com/en/ | email=info@maritimebus.com
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=+1-800-575-1807
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Maritime Bus | wikidata=Q6765789
| lastedit=2022-04-24
| content=Operates an intercity bus service between destinations in [[Nova Scotia]], [[New Brunswick]], and [[Prince Edward Island]]. <!-- A route enters [[Quebec]], but is suspended as of June 2022.-->.
}} It operates services to the following destinations served by [https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/ Orléans Express]:
** [[Rivière-du-Loup]] (not available as Maritime Bus has suspended service due to Covid-19).
** Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC / [[Campbellton]], NB (3 km taxi ride between these communities)
Line 205 ⟶ 255:
From the west in [[Ottawa]], Highway 417 (in Ontario) / Autoroute 40 (in Quebec) travels to Montreal, and is a part of the [[Trans-Canada Highway]].
 
From [[Northern Ontario]] and points westward, the [[Trans-Canada Highway]] very closely follows the Ontario-Quebec border through [[Pembroke (Ontario)|Pembroke]] and [[Ottawa]] on its way to Montréal. At various points, one can cross the Ottawa River by bridge or ferry; most of these crossings connect to Québec Route 148 (and Autoroute 50 from Hull-Gatineau eastward) to follow the river on the other side. One can also enter far to the north from Ontario Highway 66 (near [[Cochrane (Ontario)|Cochrane]]), which becomes Route 117 near the town of [[Rouyn-Noranda|Rouyn]]. Another point at the western edge of the province, [[Abitibi-Témiscamingue]], is reachable in a couple of hours from [[North Bay (Ontario)|North Bay]], Ontario by road.
 
From the east, Route 2 ([[Trans-Canada Highway]]) in New Brunswick runs from [[Moncton]] and [[Fredericton]] and becomes Autoroute 85 / Route 185 in Quebec where it continues towards [[Rivière-du-Loup]]; from there, one can turn either east toward the tip of the [[Gaspé Peninsula]] or west toward [[Quebec City]]. New Brunswick Route 11 also enters Quebec near [[Campbellton]], feeding into Route 132.
Line 233 ⟶ 283:
Trains run infrequently (compared to Europe). There are no high-speed trains in Quebec. Buses are usually cheaper, with more daily connections.
 
*{{listing
*{{listing|name=VIA Rail Canada|alt=|url=https://www.viarail.ca/|email=|address=|lat=|long=|directions=|phone=|tollfree=+1-888-842-7245|hours=|price=|lastedit=2022-04-30|content=Operates trains routes across [[Canada]].}} '''O'''ffers train service along the St. Lawrence River, up the Saguenay and across the Gaspé Peninsula to New Brunswick. VIA Rail Canada is Québec's only intercity passenger train carrier.
| name=VIA Rail Canada | alt= | url=https://www.viarail.ca/ | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=+1-888-842-7245
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Via Rail | wikidata=Q876720
| lastedit=2022-04-30
| content=Operates trains routes across [[Canada]].
}} Offers train service along the St. Lawrence River, up the Saguenay and across the Gaspé Peninsula to New Brunswick. VIA Rail Canada is Québec's only intercity passenger train carrier.
*'''[https://exo.quebec EXO]''' (formerly AMT) runs Montreal's suburban commuter trains.
* '''[http://www.orfordexpress.com/en/home.htm Orford Express]''', a Magog-Sherbrooke dinner train.
* {{listing
| name=Tshiuetin Rail Transportation | alt= | url=http://www.tshiuetin.net | email=billetterie@tshiuetin.ca
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1 418 962-5530 | tollfree=+1 866-962-0988 | fax=
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Tshiuetin Rail Transportation | wikidata=Q114149569
| lastedit=2017-02-02
| content=10-12 hr of spectacular scenery from [[Sept-Îles]] to [[Schefferville]], an otherwise-inaccessible mining community in northern Québec. This line is owned by three First Nations (Aboriginal) groups. This line does not connect to the rest of the North American rail system.
}}
 
Line 249 ⟶ 307:
The main way to travel between cities is by bus. The bus network is very well developed, particularly for connections between Quebec City-Montreal, Ottawa-Montreal and Toronto-Montreal. Buying tickets and making seat reservations is a good idea, particularly for Friday evening or holiday travel, but same-day ticket purchase is also possible.
 
{{go
{{go|name=Orléans Express|alt=|url=https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/|email=|address=|lat=|long=|directions=|phone=+1-450-640-1477|tollfree=+1-833-449-6444|hours=|price=|lastedit=2022-04-22|content=Service between [[Montreal]] and [[Quebec City]] with connecting service between Quebec City and [[Rimouski]] via [[Rivière-du-Loup]]. Onward service available to [[Gaspé]].}}
| name=Orléans Express | alt= | url=https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/ | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1-450-640-1477 | tollfree=+1-833-449-6444
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Orléans Express | wikidata=Q3356500
| lastedit=2022-04-22
| content=Service between [[Montreal]] and [[Quebec City]] with connecting service between Quebec City and [[Rimouski]] via [[Rivière-du-Loup]]. Onward service available to [[Gaspé]].
}}
 
Within cities, public transit tends to be good by North American standards, though showing the signs of insufficient public funding.
Line 267 ⟶ 333:
===By boat===
 
Numerous cruises] are available on the St. Lawrence River, one of the world’s biggest waterways.
 
West of Montreal, a ferry crossing connects Hudson to Oka across the Ottawa (Outaouais) River.
Line 541 ⟶ 607:
* Quebecers are fiercely protective of their culture of French-style secularism (''laïcité''), and you are expected to confine your religion to your private life. It is considered very impolite to discuss religion with people you do not know well.
 
===TouchySensitive subjectsissues===
* The issue of '''sovereignty''' is an ''extremely'' complicated and emotional issue, on which Québécois are almost evenly divided. Quebec francophone media often gives equal coverage to both sides. Even those who aren't ''souverainistes'' speak of Quebec as a nation with national parks, national assembly and national capital which can be confusing as both levels of government use terms like ''parc national'' or ''région de la capitale nationale'' with different meaning. To further complicate matters, there are innocuous local translations for the word "national(e)" that do not contemplate a sovereign nation-state, such as the Canadian Parliament's acknowledgment of a Québécois nation. In fact the word can also be used in a more general sense simply to refer to people who share the same history, culture and language.
* Although Quebec is part of Canada, you'll see few maple leaf flags outside Montreal, and the Quebec media outlets don't emphasize connections with the ''ROC'' ("Rest of Canada"). Some Quebecers consider the display of the Canadian flag to be an inflammatory symbol of Anglo dominance. Phrases like "here in Canada" or "as a Canadian" may make your conversational partner ill at ease. DependingIn onsome the regionregions, very few people will celebrate Canada Day (July 1). Some may be celebrating Moving Day (also on July 1) instead. Quebec's National Day (la Saint-Jean Baptiste, on June 24) is instead the most important celebration throughout the province.
* '''Quebec is not France'''. Calling Quebecers "French fries", or jokes with French stereotypes (impoliteness, poor hygiene, eating frogs' legs, and especially "surrendering") will bring puzzled stares, or at best show that you have no idea which continent you're on. It is as illogical as applying Mexican stereotypes to Spaniards just because of the historical and linguistic ties. Comparing Québécois culture and language unfavourably to France's is best avoided. Although Quebec and France have some similarities, the Québécois are a distinct culture quite separate from the country that "abandoned" them three centuries ago.
 
==Connect==
Most hotels and hostels offer Internet access and many have on-site computers for guests to use. Montreal has a free WiFiWi-Fi program called Île Sans Fil (''Wireless Island''), look for the sticker in café and restaurant windows. Wi-Fi is also available in some coffee shops and public libraries.
 
Quebec's main telephone area codes are +1-418 (Quebec City and east), +1-819 (western Québec, Outaouais, Trois-Rivières, Eastern Townships), +1-514 (Montreal Island) and +1-450 (Laval and the southwestern corner of the province). Additional area codes have been overlaid onto all of these regions, breaking seven-digit dialling throughout the province.
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