Situated in east-central Canada, Québec is a primarily French-speaking province, with most of its residents living in the capital city of Montreal. It is the largest province by area and the second largest by population. Québec has an area of 1.542 million km² and a population of over 8 million people making this one of the most densely populated provinces. Quebec is surrounded on the west by Ontario, to the north by Hudson Bay and to the south by the US state of Maine, Vermont and New York. With mild summers and cold winters in the north, and moderate temperatures in the south, the province has unpredictable climates depending on region.
Health Care
Quebec residents are allowed free basic healthcare coverage. To avail that you must register with Quebec healthcare (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec, or RAMQ).
You are eligible to receive full healthcare coverage after three months of your arrival in Quebec. Make sure that you have personal health insurance to cover you and your family during this waiting period in case of emergency.
Be sure to bring your Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, also known as a CSQ) with you when you go to register for your healthcare card. It is important to apply as soon as you arrive in Quebec.
Weather
Most Canadian cities enjoy very warm summers where temperatures can go above 30 degrees Celsius. However, it can get very cold in almost all parts of Canada in the winter, when temperatures can go below -20, even -30 degrees Celsius. It is very important to ensure that you are prepared for the cold weather. You need to buy a lot of winter clothing, including sweaters, winter jackets, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves or mittens. If you do not dress adequately in the winter you will risk becoming ill or getting frostbite. Frostbite is severe damage to the skin caused by winter wind exposure. Quebec is a province of Canada that experiences a lot of snowfall, so prepare yourself as much as possible.
Education
Montreal has 4 universities and most colleges and universities in Québec offering education in both English and French, however, there are some institutes of higher learning that only teach in French.
McGill University is one of the better-known institutions in Canada, ranking as the top university in the country and 24th on an international scale. As an English-language research university, McGill has an international students community that accounts for 24% of the total university body of 39500 students.
Career/Jobs
If you need to improve your language skills in either English or French, register for a course. Being able to speak, understand and write fluently in English and French is a necessity in Quebec. If you need to improve your French and/or English skills, be sure to start studying before you come to Quebec, and to enrol in a course immediately upon your arrival.
French is the official language of Quebec, so it is important that you have a good catch over the language and you are able to speak, read and understand the French language.
There are countless immigrant serving and community organizations, as well as educational institutions that offer French language courses, some without charge to newcomers. Contact the organizations in the directory below for more information.
Housing
Most rental housing in Canada is owned by individuals or by companies. Some of them have lower rental rates because it is subsidized by the government, but it is specifically for people with low to moderate incomes.
When you find a property that you are interested in renting, consider whether it is safe, is big enough for the number of people who would live there; and is close to public transportation.
If you’re renting, it’s a good idea to have insurance.There are two types of coverage:
Liability coverage protects you in case you damage the building or others are injured when they visit your home, and Content coverage protects you for loss or damage to your personal belongings caused by insured risks including fire, smoke, and theft.
If you plan on buying a house, there are several options available for sale, such as Condominiums; Townhouses; Single or detached homes; Semi-detached; and Duplexes.
Cost of living
The average earnings in Quebec are lower than most provinces in Canada. It is approximately $70,480 per year, but the province provides an extremely high quality of life which balances the lifestyle of residents there. In Quebec you have to pay high taxes which eventually results in high-quality public services, transport and tertiary education.
Montreal is a relatively affordable city with an average cost of a home ranging at $327,000.
Economy
Québec has one of the world’s largest supplies of freshwater at around 3%. There are over 500,000 lakes, rivers and streams in the province. Quebec’s economy was mainly based on natural resources, especially fishing, agriculture and timber. However, the new technologies have brought phenomenal growth in Quebec’s aerospace industry and information technology. Major exports of the province include pulp and paper, agricultural and forestry products.