Quebec

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Government of Quebec|Politics of Quebec}}
[[File:Quebec_City_(14765614666).jpg|thumb|The [[Parliament Building (Quebec)|Parliament Building]] in Quebec City]]
Quebec is founded on the [[Westminster system]], and is both a [[liberal democracy]] and a [[constitutional monarchy]] with [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary regime]]. The head of government in Quebec is the [[Premier of Quebec|premier]] (called {{lang|fr|premier ministre}} in French), who leads the largest party in the [[unicameral]] National Assembly ({{lang|fr|Assemblée Nationale}}) from which the [[Executive Council of Quebec]] is appointed. The [[Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor (Quebec)|Conseil du trésor]] supports the ministers of the Executive Council in their function of stewardship of the state. The [[Lieutenant Governor of Quebec|lieutenant governor]] represents the [[King of Canada]] and acts as the province's [[head of state]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-3.html|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, THE CONSTITUTION ACTS, 1867 to 1982|date=August 7, 2020|publisher=Government of Canada}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web|title=Constitutional role|url=http://www.lieutenant-gouverneur.qc.ca/roles-et-fonctions/role-constitutionnel-en.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210204607/http://www.lieutenant-gouverneur.qc.ca/roles-et-fonctions/role-constitutionnel-en.html|archivedate=February 10, 2012|accessdate=January 19, 2012|publisher=Bureau du Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec}}</ref>

Quebec has 78 [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|members of Parliament]] (MPs) in the [[House of Commons of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|date=July 29, 2019|title=Députés |publisher=Chambre des communes du Canada|url=https://www.noscommunes.ca/Parliamentarians/fr/members?currentOnly=true&province=QC.}}</ref> They are elected in federal elections. At the level of the [[Senate of Canada]], Quebec is represented by 24 senators, which are appointed on the advice of the [[prime minister of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|date=September 1, 2016|title= Liste Sénateurs|url=https://sencanada.ca/fr/liste-senateurs/|publisher=Sénat du Canada}}</ref>

The Quebec government holds [[Administration (government)|administrative]] and [[police]] authority in its areas of [[exclusive jurisdiction]]. The Parliament of the [[43rd Quebec Legislature|43rd legislature]] is made up of the following parties: [[Coalition Avenir Québec]] (CAQ), [[Parti libéral du Québec]] (PLQ), [[Québec solidaire]] (QS) and [[Parti Québécois]] (PQ), as well as an [[National Assembly of Quebec#Current standings|independent member]]. There are [[List of political parties in Quebec|25 official political parties in Quebec]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Partis politiques |url=https://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/partis-et-autres-entites-politiques/partis-politiques/ |website=Élections Québec |access-date=20 June 2023 |language=fr-CA}}</ref>

Quebec has a network of three offices for representing itself and defending its interests within Canada: one in Moncton for all provinces east, one in Toronto for all provinces west, and one in Ottawa for the federal government. These offices' mandate is to ensure an institutional presence of the Government of Quebec near other Canadian governments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bureaux du Québec au Canada |url=https://www.sqrc.gouv.qc.ca/representation-quebec-canada/index.asp |accessdate=July 29, 2019 |publisher=Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bureau du Québec dans les Provinces atlantiques |url=https://www.sqrc.gouv.qc.ca/representation-quebec-canada/provinces-atlantiques/index.asp |accessdate=July 29, 2019 |publisher=Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes}}</ref>

===Subdivisions===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Quebec}}
Quebec's territory is divided into 17 [[Regions of Quebec|administrative regions]] as follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=Loi sur la division territoriale (L.R.Q., c. D-11)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/D_11/D11.HTM|accessdate=February 6, 2011|publisher=Les Publications du Québec}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Décret concernant la révision des limites des régions administratives du Québec (L.R.Q., c. D-11, r.1)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=//D_11/D11R1.htm|accessdate=October 16, 2016|publisher=Les Publications du Québec}}</ref>[[File:Regions_administratives_du_Quebec.png|thumb|The [[Regions of Quebec|seventeen administrative regions]] of Quebec.]]
{{Div col}}
#[[Bas-Saint-Laurent]]
#[[Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean]]
#[[Capitale-Nationale]]
#[[Mauricie]]
#[[Estrie]]
#[[Urban agglomeration of Montreal|Montréal]]
#[[Outaouais]]
#[[Abitibi-Témiscamingue]]
#[[Côte-Nord]]
#[[Nord-du-Québec]]
#[[Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine]]
#[[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
#[[Laval, Quebec|Laval]]
#[[Lanaudière]]
#[[Laurentides]]
#[[Montérégie]]
#[[Centre-du-Québec]]
{{End div col}}

The province also has the following divisions:
*4 territories ([[Abitibi County, Quebec|Abitibi]], [[Ashuanipi]], [[Rivière-Mistassini, Quebec|Mistassini]] and [[Nunavik]]) which group together the lands that once formed the [[District of Ungava]]
*36 [[Judicial districts of Quebec|judicial districts]]
*73 {{lang|fr|circonscriptions foncières}}
*125 {{ill|Electoral districts of Quebec|lt=electoral districts|fr|Circonscription électorale du Québec}}<ref>[[Gazette officielle du Québec]] : Avis d'établissement de la liste des circonscriptions électorales (1992) 124 G.O. 2, 4373</ref>

For municipal purposes, Quebec is composed of:
*1,117 [[Local government in Quebec|local municipalities]] of various [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|types]]:
**11 [[Urban agglomerations of Quebec|agglomerations]] ({{lang|fr|agglomérations}}) grouping 42 of these local municipalities
**45 [[List of boroughs in Quebec|boroughs]] ({{lang|fr|arrondissements}}) within 8 of these local municipalities
*89 [[Regional county municipality|regional county municipalities]] or RCMs ({{lang|fr|municipalités régionales de comté, MRC}})
*2 [[Metropolitan Community (Quebec)|metropolitan communities]] ({{lang|fr|communautés métropolitaines}})
*the regional [[Kativik Regional Government|Kativik]] administration
*the [[List of unorganized territories in Quebec|unorganised territories]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Code municipal du Québec (L.R.Q., c. C-27.1)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=%2F%2FC_27_1%2FC27_1.htm|accessdate=February 6, 2011|publisher=Les Publications du Québec}}</ref>

===Ministries and policies===
Quebec's constitution is enshrined in a series of social and cultural traditions that are defined in a set of judicial judgments and legislative documents, including the {{lang|fr|Loi sur l'Assemblée Nationale}} ("Law on the National Assembly"), the {{lang|fr|Loi sur l'éxecutif}} ("Law on the Executive"), and the {{lang|fr|Loi électorale du Québec}} ("Electoral Law of Quebec").<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Les Publications du Québec|Éditeur officiel du Québec]]|title=Loi électorale (L.R.Q., c E-3.3)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/E_3_3/E3_3.html|accessdate=February 1, 2011}}</ref> Other notable examples include the [[Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms|Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms]], the [[Charter of the French language]], and the [[Civil Code of Quebec]].<ref name="CCQ2">{{cite web|date=October 28, 2011|title=Code civil du Québec, L.R.Q.|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=%2FCCQ%2FCCQ.html|access-date=June 6, 2021|archive-date=September 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913110920/http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Quebec's international policy is founded upon the {{ill|Gérin-Lajoie doctrine|fr|Doctrine Gérin-Lajoie}},<ref>{{cite web |date=April 12, 1965 |title=Allocution du ministre de l'Éducation, M. Paul Gérin-Lajoie |url=http://www.mri.gouv.qc.ca/fr/ministere/histoire_ministere/documents_archives/discours_gerin_lajoie.pdf |publisher=[[Gouvernement du Québec]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526152449/http://www.mri.gouv.qc.ca/fr/ministere/histoire_ministere/documents_archives/discours_gerin_lajoie.pdf |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> formulated in 1965. While Quebec's [[Ministry of International Relations (Quebec)|Ministry of International Relations]] coordinates international policy, [[Quebec Government Offices|Quebec's general delegations]] are the main interlocutors in foreign countries. Quebec is the only Canadian province that has set up a ministry to exclusively embody the state's powers for international relations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Comparaison interprovinciale et analyse de l'administration publique au Canada|url=http://etatscanadiens-canadiangovernments.enap.ca/fr/nav.aspx?sortcode=1.0.1.2|accessdate=July 27, 2011|publisher=L'observatoire de l'administration publique}}</ref>

Since 2006, Quebec has adopted a green plan to meet the objectives of the [[Kyoto Protocol]] regarding climate change.<ref>{{cite web|year=2006|publisher=Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs du Québec|title=Le Québec et les changements climatiques: un défi pour l'avenir. Plan d'action 2006-2012|url=http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/changements/plan_action/2006-2012_fr.pdf|isbn=978-2-550-53375-7}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, and Fight Against Climate Change]] (MELCC) is the primary entity responsible for the application of environmental policy. The [[Société des établissements de plein air du Québec]] (SEPAQ) is the main body responsible for the management of national parks and wildlife reserves.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Les Publications du Québec|title=Loi sur la Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (L.R.Q., chapitre S-13.01)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=//S_13_01/S13_01.htm|accessdate=December 10, 2009}}</ref> Nearly 500,000 people took part in a climate protest on the streets of Montreal in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2, 2019|title=La "base climatosceptique" bel et bien présente au Québec|url=https://journalmetro.com/actualites/national/2383747/apres-la-marche-la-base-climatosceptique-bel-et-bien-presente-au-quebec/|website=Journal Métro |last=Carabin |first=François |language=fr}}</ref>

Agriculture in Quebec has been subject to [[agricultural zoning]] regulations since 1978.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Les Publications du Québec|title=Loi sur la protection du territoire et des activités agricoles (L.R.Q., c. P-41.1)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/P_41_1/P41_1.html|accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref> Faced with the problem of expanding [[urban sprawl]], agricultural zones were created to ensure the protection of fertile land, which make up 2% of Quebec's total area. {{ill|Quebec's forests|fr|Forêt au Québec}} are essentially public property. The calculation of annual cutting possibilities is the responsibility of the {{lang|fr|Bureau du forestier en chef}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forestier en chef|url=https://forestierenchef.gouv.qc.ca/|accessdate=July 30, 2019|publisher=Government of Quebec}}</ref> The [[Union des producteurs agricoles]] (UPA) seeks to protect the interests of its members, including forestry workers, and works jointly with the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Quebec)|Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] (MAPAQ) and the [[Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Quebec)|Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources]].

The {{lang|fr|Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale du Québec}} has the mandate to oversee social and workforce developments through Emploi-Québec and its local employment centres (CLE).<ref>{{cite web|title=Emploi-Québec|url=http://emploiquebec.net/index.asp|accessdate=January 8, 2010|publisher=Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale}}</ref> This ministry is also responsible for managing the {{lang|fr|Régime québécois d'assurance parentale}} (QPIP) as well as last-resort financial support for people in need. The {{ill|Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail|fr|Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail}} (CNESST) is the main body responsible for labour laws in Quebec<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Les Publications du Québec|Éditeur officiel du Québec]]|title=Loi sur les normes du travail (L.R.Q., c. N-1.1)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/N_1_1/N1_1.html|accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref> and for enforcing agreements concluded between unions of employees and their employers.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Les Publications du Québec|Éditeur officiel du Québec]]|title=Code du travail (L.R.Q., c. C-27)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_27/C27.HTM|accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref>

[[Revenu Québec]] is the body responsible for collecting taxes. It takes its revenue through a [[Progressive tax|progressive income tax]], a 9.975% sales tax,<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Rules for Applying the GST/HST and QST|publisher=Revenu Quebec|url=http://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/entreprises/taxes/tpstvhtvq/reglesdebase/default.aspx|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807045446/http://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/entreprises/taxes/tpstvhtvq/reglesdebase/default.aspx|archivedate=August 7, 2016|accessdate=July 30, 2016}}</ref> various other provincial taxes (ex. carbon, corporate and capital gains taxes), [[Equalization payments in Canada|equalization payments]], transfer payments from other provinces, and direct payments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Consolidated provincial and territorial government revenue and expenditures, by province and territory, 2009|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt56b-eng.htm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312082028/http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt56b-eng.htm|archivedate=March 12, 2009|publisher=Statistics Canada}}</ref> By some measures Quebec residents are the most taxed;<ref>{{cite web|last=Kozhaya|first=Norma|date=March 11, 2004|title=Soaking 'les riches'|url=http://www.iedm.org/fr/2427-soaking-les-riches|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214201/http://www.iedm.org/fr/2427-soaking-les-riches|archivedate=April 8, 2014|publisher=Montreal Economic Institute}}</ref> a 2012 study indicated that "Quebec companies pay 26 per cent more in taxes than the Canadian average".<ref>{{cite news|last=Marotte|first=Bertrand|title=Quebec business taxes highest in North America|newspaper=Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/quebec-business-taxes-highest-in-north-america-study/article4618486/|url-status=live|accessdate=April 7, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031055451/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/quebec-business-taxes-highest-in-north-america-study/article4618486/|archivedate=October 31, 2012}}</ref>

Quebec's immigration philosophy is based on the principles of pluralism and [[interculturalism]].The {{lang|fr|Ministère de l'Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec}} is responsible for the selection and integration of immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accord Canada-Québec relatif à l'immigration et à l'admission temporaire des aubains (Accord Gagnon-Tremblay—McDougall)|url=http://www.micc.gouv.qc.ca/publications/fr/divers/Accord-canada-quebec-immigration-francais.pdf|accessdate=July 30, 2019|publisher=Government of Quebec|archive-date=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614152839/http://www.micc.gouv.qc.ca/publications/fr/divers/Accord-canada-quebec-immigration-francais.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Programs favour immigrants who know French, have a low risk of becoming criminals and have in-demand skills.

Quebec's health and social services network is administered by the [[Ministry of Health and Social Services (Quebec)|Ministry of Health and Social Services]]. It is composed of 95 {{lang|fr|réseaux locaux de services}} (RLS; 'local service networks') and 18 {{lang|fr|agences de la santé et des services sociaux}} (ASSS; 'health and social services agencies'). Quebec's health system is supported by the ''[[Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec]]'' (RAMQ) which works to maintain the accessibility of services for all citizens of Quebec.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Les Publications du Québec|Éditeur officiel du Québec]]|title=Loi sur la Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (L.R.Q., c. R-5)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/R_5/R5.html|accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref>

The {{lang|fr|Ministère de la Famille et des Aînés du Québec}} operate {{ill|centres de la petite enfance|fr|Centre de la petite enfance}} (CPEs; 'centres for young children'). [[Education in Quebec|Quebec's education system]] is administered by the [[Ministry of Education and Higher Education (Quebec)|Ministry of Education and Higher Education]] ([[Primary school|primary]] and [[Secondary school|secondary]] schools), the {{lang|fr|Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur}} ([[CEGEP]]) and the {{lang|fr|Conseil supérieure de l'Education du Québec}} (universities and colleges).<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Les Publications du Québec|Éditeur officiel du Québec]]|title=Loi sur le Conseil supérieur de l'éducation (L.R.Q., c. C-60)|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_60/C60.html|accessdate=January 8, 2010}}</ref> In 2012, the annual cost for postsecondary [[tuition]] was CA$2,168 (€1,700)—less than half of Canada's average tuition. Part of the reason for this is that tuition fees were frozen to a relatively low level when CEGEPS were created during the Quiet Revolution. When Jean Charest's government decided in 2012 to sharply increase university fees, [[2012 Quebec student protests|students protests]] erupted.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pascale|last=Dufour|date=June 1, 2012|title=Ténacité des étudiants québécois|url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2012/06/DUFOUR/47888|website=Le Monde diplomatique}}</ref> Because of these protests, Quebec's tuition fees remain relatively low.

===External relationships===
Quebec's closest international partner is the United States, with which it shares a long and positive history. Products of [[American culture]] like songs, movies, fashion and food strongly affect Québécois culture.

Quebec has a historied relationship with France, as Quebec was a part of the French Empire and both regions share a language. The {{ill|Fédération France-Québec|fr|Fédération France-Québec}} and the [[Francophonie]] are a few of the tools used for relations between Quebec and France. In [[Paris]], a {{lang|fr|place du Québec}} was inaugurated in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|title=La place du Québec à Paris dans toute sa splendeur|url=http://www.consulfrance-quebec.org/La-place-du-Quebec-a-Paris-dans|publisher=Consulat général de France à Québec|accessdate=September 12, 2021}}</ref> Quebec also has a historied relationship with the United Kingdom, having been a part of the British Empire. Quebec and the UK share the same head of state, [[King Charles III]].

Quebec has a [[Quebec Government Offices|network of 32 offices]] in 18 countries. These offices serve the purpose of representing Quebec in foreign countries and are overseen by Quebec's [[Ministry of International Relations (Quebec)|Ministry of International Relations]]. Quebec, like other Canadian provinces, also maintains representatives in some Canadian embassies and consulates general. {{As of|2019}}, the Government of Quebec had delegates-general ([[agents-general]]) in [[Brussels]], [[London]], [[Mexico City]], [[Munich]], [[New York City]], Paris and [[Tokyo]]; delegates to [[Atlanta]], [[Boston]], [[Chicago]], [[Houston]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[Rome]]; and offices headed by directors offering more limited services in [[Barcelona]], [[Beijing]], [[Dakar]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Mumbai]], [[São Paulo]], [[Shanghai]], [[Stockholm]], and [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]. In addition, there are the equivalent of [[Consul (representative)#honorary consul|honorary consuls]], titled {{lang|fr|antennes}}, in [[Berlin]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Qingdao]], [[Seoul]], and [[Silicon Valley]].

Quebec also has a representative to [[UNESCO]] and participates in the [[Organization of American States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mrif.gouv.qc.ca/fr/ministere/representation-etranger |title=Réseau des représentations à l'étranger|publisher=Government of Quebec|accessdate=September 12, 2021}}</ref> Quebec is a member of the {{lang|fr|i=no|[[Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie]]}} and of the {{lang|fr|i=no|[[Organisation internationale de la francophonie]]}}.