[86] In 1754, George Washington launched a surprise attack on a group of Canadian soldiers sleeping in the early morning hours. The French language subsequently regained legal status in the Legislature. HR 8799 is the first direct observation of an exoplanet in history. On February 8, 2007, Quebec Premier Jean Charest announced the setting up of a Commission tasked with consulting Quebec Society on the matter of arrangements regarding cultural diversity. The Saint Lawrence River has some of the world's largest sustaining inland Atlantic ports at Montreal (the province's largest city), Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City (the capital). [70] These people traded fur and food and sometimes warred with each other. [211] The Quartier Latin (English: Latin Quarter) of Montreal, and Vieux-Québec (English: Old Quebec) in Quebec City, are two hubs of activity for today's artists. ), Following were Creoles (0.8%), Chinese (0.6%), Greek (0.5%), Portuguese (0.5%), Romanian (0.4%), Vietnamese (0.3%), and Russian (0.3%). More than one million people in Quebec are employed in the science and technology sector. Quebec is remarkable for the natural resources of its vast territory. In 1837, residents of Lower Canada – led by Louis-Joseph Papineau and Robert Nelson – formed an armed resistance group to seek an end to the unilateral control of the British governors. [243] Je me souviens ("I remember") was first carved under the coat of arms of Quebec's Parliament Building façade in 1883. Since 1959, the Saint Lawrence Seaway has provided a navigable link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. [162], About 180 000 Quebeckers work in different field of information technology. In addition, 152,820 (2.0%) reported having more than one native language.[138]. They are then differentiated according to the insolation, temperature, and precipitation of snow and rain.[44]. From La Bolduc in the 1920s–1930s to the contemporary artists, the music in Quebec has announced multiple songwriters and performers, pop singers and crooners, music groups and many more. The National Capital Region spans the Ontario-Quebec border. [156], Quebec is considered as one of world leaders in fundamental scientific research, having produced ten Nobel laureates in either physics, chemistry, or medicine. [193] It is therefore considered as the most sensitive camera in the world. [178] The spending on research and development reached some 7.824 billion dollars in 2007, roughly the equivalent of 2.63% of Quebec's GDP. Quebec officially disputes this boundary. [39] It is generally a quite flat and exposed mountainous terrain interspersed with higher points such as the Laurentian Mountains in southern Quebec, the Otish Mountains in central Quebec and the Torngat Mountains near Ungava Bay. In that year, the Legislative Council was abolished and the Legislative Assembly was renamed the National Assembly. Most visible minorities in Quebec live in or near Montreal. If your business is looking to expand and you need more than $5 million for your project, Investissement Québec can provide development capital or a loan of up to $100 million, depending on the nature of your project. The island of Montreal houses most of the allophone and anglophone population, as well as most English-language institutions. Currently, the song Gens du pays is by far preferred by many Quebecers to be the national anthem of Quebec. It is located between Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay on the west; Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the east; between Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay on the north; and New Brunswick and the United States on the south. Émile Nelligan, a Quebec poet famous for his poem Winter evening, First influenced since the days of New France by Catholicism, with works from Frère Luc (Brother Luke) and more recently from Ozias Leduc and Guido Nincheri, art of Quebec has developed around the specific characteristics of its landscapes and cultural, historical, social and political representations.[231]. [113], On October 30, 2003, the National Assembly of Quebec voted unanimously to affirm "that the people of Québec form a nation". Although Quebec is home to only 24% of the population of Canada, the number of international adoptions in Quebec is the highest of all provinces of Canada. [43] Most of central Quebec, ranging from 51 to 58 degrees North has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc). [241] Other major sports include Canadian football with the Montreal Alouettes, soccer with the Montreal Impact, the Grand Prix du Canada Formula 1 racing with drivers such as Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve, and professional baseball with the former Montreal Expos. Early variations in the spelling of the name included Québecq (Levasseur, 1601) and Kébec (Lescarbot, 1609). Quebec, French Québec, eastern province of Canada. However, Samuel de Champlain argued that the English seizing of the lands was illegal as the war had already ended; he worked to have the lands returned to France. Given a warmer climate, the diversity of organisms is also higher, since there are about 850 plant species and 280 vertebrates species. The first cheese-making school in North America was established in Saint-Denis-de-Kamouraska in 1893. [161] Pauline Marois has recently unveiled a two billion dollar budget for the period between 2013 to 2017 to create about 115,000 new jobs in knowledge and innovation sectors. Quebec is the only Canadian province whose population is mainly Francophone; 6,102,210 people (78.1 percent of the population) recorded it as their sole native language in the 2011 Census, and 6,249,085 (80.0%) recorded that they spoke it most often at home. A number of governmental and non-government organizations support cultural activity in Quebec. [68] St. Lawrence Iroquoians, a branch of the Iroquois, lived more settled lives, growing corn, beans and squash in the fertile soils of the St. Lawrence Valley. This page was last edited on 7 December 2020, at 01:50. Its capital is Quebec City, which is located in the southeastern portion of the province, along the St. Lawrence River. [72] French fishing fleets, however, continued to sail to the Atlantic coast and into the St. Lawrence River, making alliances with First Nations that would become important once France began to occupy the land.[73]. The other provinces then joined Confederation, one after the other: Manitoba and the Northwest Territories in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Yukon in 1898, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, Newfoundland in 1949 and finally Nunavut in 1999.[102]. "[115][116][117] However, there is considerable debate and uncertainty over what this means. [14] In 2006, the House of Commons of Canada passed a symbolic motion recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada".[15][16]. [46][47] In periods of intense heat and cold, temperatures can reach 35 °C (95 °F) in the summer[48] and −40 °C (−40 °F) during the Quebec winter,[48] They may vary depending on the Humidex or Wind chill. [224][225] They cannot be subordinated by any other principle.[212]. [154] The percentage spent on research and technology (R&D) is the highest in Canada and higher than the averages for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the G7 countries. "Le temps des sucres" is a period during springtime when many Quebecers go to the cabane à sucre for a traditional meal. Pending approval from the Superior Court of Québec (Commercial … Quebec has more than 450 biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies which together employ more than 25,000 people and 10,000 highly qualified researchers. This marine environment sustains fisheries and smaller ports in the Lower Saint Lawrence (Bas-Saint-Laurent), Lower North Shore (Côte-Nord), and Gaspé (Gaspésie) regions of the province. Quebec has had over 9,469 scientific publications in the sector of medicine, biomedical research and engineering since the year 2000. It mainly covers the areas of the Centre-du-Québec, Laval, Montérégie and Montreal, the southern regions of the Capitale-Nationale, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie and includes Anticosti Island, the Mingan Archipelago,[36] and other small islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence lowland forests ecoregion. This author will be part of the current of patriotic literature (also known as the "poets of the country" and literary identity) that will arise after the Patriots Rebellion of 1837–1838. The government hopes to create a strong culture of innovation in Quebec for the next decades and to create a sustainable economy. The situation called for a more creative approach to problem solving. Quebec's cuisine has also been influenced by learning from First Nation, by English cuisine and by American cuisine. [206], Quebec has been described as a potential clean energy superpower. [153] Quebec's spending in R&D in 2011 was equal to 2.63% of GDP, above the European Union average of 1.84% and will have to reaches the target of devoting 3% of GDP to research and development activities in 2013 according to the Lisbon Strategy. The government promises to provide about 3% of Quebec's GDP in research and development (R&D). [179] The research and development expenditures will be more than 3% of the province's GDP in 2013. Approximately 12 900 people working in over 110 companies such as IBM, CMC, and Matrox. [191][192] Olivier Daigle and Claude Carignan, astrophysicists from Université de Montréal have invented an astronomical camera approximately 500 times more powerful than those currently on the market. In the waters of the St. Lawrence there are eight deep-water ports for the transhipment of goods. While it may be the biggest city in Quebec it is not a capital city. Among the Nordic marine animals, there are two particularly important to cite: the walrus and the narwhal. [226] The Artis and the Gemini Awards gala recognize the personalities of television and radio industry in Quebec and French Canada. [123], The government of Quebec takes the majority of its revenue through a progressive income tax, a 9.975% sales tax[124] and various other taxes (such as carbon, corporate and capital gains taxes), equalization payments from the federal government, transfer payments from other provinces and direct payments. It is anchored by the provincial capital, Quebec City, and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure, is walkable and safe. These areas, listed in order from the northernmost to the southernmost are: the tundra, the taiga, the Canadian boreal forest (coniferous), mixed forest and Deciduous forest.[39]. In 1848, Baldwin and LaFontaine, allies and leaders of the Reformist party, were asked by Lord Elgin to form an administration together under the new policy of responsible government. Well-known English-language writers from Quebec include Leonard Cohen, Mordecai Richler, and Neil Bissoondath. It has a land area of 18,797.45 km . Quebec has produced beer since the beginning of colonization especially with the emergence of spruce beer. In 1977, the Quebec Parliament declared June 24 to be Quebec's National Holiday. Ives Goddard. Lawrence Marine Park until the Île d'Orléans (French for Orleans Island), such as the blue whale, the beluga, the minke whale and the harp seal (earless seal). Quebec's culture blends its historic roots with its aboriginal heritage and the contributions of recent immigrants, as well as receiving a strong influence from English-speaking North America. The deciduous forest of the Saint Lawrence Lowlands is mostly composed of deciduous species such as the sugar maple, the red maple, the white ash, the American beech, the butternut (white walnut), the American elm, the basswood, the bitternut hickory and the northern red oak as well as some conifers such as the eastern white pine and the northern whitecedar. [183] Overall, the province of Quebec count about 125 scientific publications per 100,000 inhabitants in 2009. It is the only remaining walled city in North America north of Mexico and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. Capital Solutions As a long-term partner, CDPQ provides flexible and innovative capital solutions that meet the continuously changing needs of companies in Québec and around the world. Many metallic minerals are exploited, the principals are gold, iron, copper and zinc. CDPQ is a leading player in Québec. This industry generated 487,000 jobs in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing of food, beverages and tobacco and food distribution.[171]. [11] It is the only one to have a predominantly French-speaking population, with French as the sole official language. Linguistic map of the province of Quebec (source: Statistics Canada, 2006 census): Indigenous peoples and European exploration, Seven Years' War and capitulation of New France. At the time of first European contact and later colonization, Algonquian, Iroquois and Inuit nations controlled what is now Quebec. With its cinematic installations, such as the Cité du cinéma and Mel's studios, the city of Montreal is home to the filming of various productions. The party failed to win control of Quebec's National Assembly both times – though its share of the vote increased from 23 percent to 30 percent – and Lévesque was defeated both times in the riding he contested. [39], The total forest area of Quebec is estimated at 750,300 square kilometres (289,700 sq mi). Lévesque and his party had run in the 1970 and 1973 Quebec elections under a platform of separating Quebec from the rest of Canada. In western Quebec, the average altitude is about 500 metres, while in the Gaspé Peninsula, the Appalachian peaks (especially the Chic-Choc) are among the highest in Quebec, exceeding 1000 metres. This is a legacy of colonial times when only Roman Catholics were permitted to settle in New France. Development and security of land transportation in Canada are provided by the ministère des Transports du Québec. [99] Following Durham's report,[99] the British government merged the two colonial provinces into one Province of Canada in 1840 with the Act of Union. Precipitation is also somewhat less than farther south, except at some of the higher elevations. The province's economic output was CA$439.3 billion in 2018, almost 20 percent of the Canada's total gross domestic product. Although reaction to conscription was favourable in English Canada the idea was deeply unpopular in Quebec. From New France, Quebec literature was first developed in the travel accounts of explorers such as Jacques Cartier, Jean de Brébeuf, the Baron de La Hontan and Nicolas Perrot, describing their relations with indigenous peoples. The first was the Meech Lake Accord of 1987, which was finally abandoned in 1990 when the province of Manitoba did not pass it within the established deadline. It is inspired in part by the French Legion of Honour. Quebec, French Québec, city, port, and capital of Quebec province, Canada. The Capitale-Nationale region covers a total area of 18 643 km 2. It is anchored by the provincial capital, Quebec City, and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. The provincial debt-to-GDP ratio peaked at 50.7% in fiscal year 2012–2013, and is projected to decline to 33.8% in 2023–2024. CPE News (6/29/2020) – TPG, Fosun, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) (consortium), the joint owner of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, in partnership with Investissement Québec (IQ), have submitted a proposal to acquire substantially all of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group’s assets.. [100], In the 1860s, the delegates from the colonies of British North America (Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland) met in a series of conferences to discuss self-governing status for a new confederation. [187][188][189], The province is one of the world leaders in the field of space science and contributed to important discoveries in this field. In subsequent years, two attempts were made to gain Quebec's approval of the constitution. British reinforcements came up the St. Lawrence in May 1776, and the Battle of Trois-Rivières turned into a disaster for the Americans. This led to the formation of the sovereigntist Bloc Québécois party in Ottawa under the leadership of Lucien Bouchard,[111] who had resigned from the federal cabinet. [35] The most populous physiographic region is the Saint Lawrence Lowland. 25 Districts Francophones manege by 5 school service centres : Regional County Municipalities (RCM) and Equivalent Territories (ET), "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Capitale-Nationale [Economic region], Quebec", "Modification aux municipalités du Québec, 2000", "Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census", https://www.cscharlevoix.qc.ca/centre-de-services-scolaire/, Commission de toponymie - Topos sur le Web - Listing for Capitale-Nationale, Portail régional de la Capitale-Nationale, Montreal Metropolitan Community (Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal), Regional county municipalities and equivalent territories, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capitale-Nationale&oldid=985005017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 5 of Commission scolaire des Premières-Seigneuries, This page was last edited on 23 October 2020, at 11:36. The name "Québec", which comes from the Algonquin or Ojibwe word kébec meaning "where the river narrows", originally referred to the area around Quebec City where the Saint Lawrence River narrows to a cliff-lined gap. The réseau routier québécois (Quebec road network) is managed by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) (Quebec Automobile Insurance Corporation) and consists of about 185,000 kilometres (115,000 mi) of highways and national, regional, local, collector and forest roads. [150], Quebec's economy has undergone tremendous changes over the last decade. [186], The Canadian Space Agency was established in Quebec due to its major role in this research field. From Quebec's musical repertoire, the song A La Claire Fontaine[219] was the anthem of the New France, Patriots and French Canadian, then replaced by O Canada. [18] The province is sometimes referred to as "La belle province" ("The beautiful province"). The Lieutenant Governor represents the Queen of Canada and acts as the province's head of state. Lake Mistassini is the largest natural lake in Quebec.[33]. Prior to January 2000, it was known as the Québec administrative region.[2]. [28] Its topography is very different from one region to another due to the varying composition of the ground, the climate (latitude and altitude), and the proximity to water. Contributor Names Le Rouge, Georges-Louis. Several sites, houses and historical works reflect the cultural heritage of Quebec, such as the Village Québécois d'Antan, the historical village of Val-Jalbert, the Fort Chambly, the national home of the Patriots, the Chicoutimi pulp mill (Pulperie de Chicoutimi), the Lachine Canal and the Victoria Bridge. It reported a total resident population of 729,997 as of the Canada 2016 Census, with Quebec City having 73.7 percent of the total. The debate over the status of Quebec is a highly animated one to this day. More than a million lakes and rivers cover Quebec, occupying 21% of the total area of its territory. By virtue of its transient nature, this area contains a diversity of habitats resulting in large numbers of plant (1000) and vertebrates (350) species, despite relatively cool temperatures. Although neither passed, the 1995 referendum saw the highest voter turnout in Quebec history, at over 93%, and only failed by less than 1%. It is also the main, and in some circumstances only, source of manufacturing activity in more than 250 municipalities in the province. La province de Québec est la plus grande province canadienne : les deux autres provinces comparables au Québec sont l'Ontario et … To secure the allegiance of the approximately 90,000 French-speaking Canadians to the British crown, first Governor James Murray and later Governor Guy Carleton promoted the need for change. [182] Quebec is also active in the development of its energy industries, including renewable energy such as hydropower and wind power. There is a significant undercount, as many of the largest Indian bands regularly refuse to participate in Canadian censuses for political reasons regarding the question of aboriginal sovereignty. Other notable rivers include the Ashuapmushuan, Chaudière, Gatineau, Manicouagan, Ottawa, Richelieu, Rupert, Saguenay, Saint-François, and Saint-Maurice. For the province's capital city, see. Quebec is at the centre of French-speaking culture in North America. This article is about the Canadian province. Forests cover more than half of Quebec's territory, for a total area of nearly 761,100 square kilometres (293,900 sq mi). Avec une superficie de 1 542 056 km23, le Québec est la plus grande province canadienne, et la deuxième plus vaste entité territoriale après le Nunavut. Specifically, there was no possibility of restoring the previous political balance – there were simply too many English people unwilling to reach a compromise with the 145,000 Canadiens or their colonial governor. [74] In 1608, he returned as head of an exploration party and founded Quebec City with the intention of making the area part of the French colonial empire. [138], In 2011, the most common mother tongue languages in the province were as follows: Origins in this table are self-reported and respondents were allowed to give more than one answer. Its culture is a symbol of a distinct perspective. [40][41] The main climatic influences are from western and northern Canada and move eastward, and from the southern and central United States that move northward. Many feared the establishment of Catholicism in Quebec, and that the French Canadians were being courted to help oppress British Americans.[92]. [133] Life expectancy in Quebec reached a new high in 2011, with an expectancy of 78.6 years for men and 83.2 years for women; this ranked as the third-longest life expectancy among Canadian provinces, behind those of British Columbia and Ontario.[132]. Most of Quebec's population lives in this area of vegetation, almost entirely along the banks of the St. Lawrence. Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is the capital city of Canada's Québec province.Known for its classical architecture and a distinctive European feel, like most of the province, Québec City (Ville de Québec) is the second most populous city in the province after Montreal and the eleventh most populous city in Canada.. Vue de Quebec, capitale du Canada. Stroll the cobblestone streets of the only fortified city north of Mexico and explore its gorgeous outdoors nearby. The Ottawa River runs through the region, as well as long sections of the Gatineau and Rideaurivers. In a similar way, the Association of Film and Television in Quebec (APFTQ) promotes independent production in film and television. Its capital, Quebec city, is the oldest city in Canada. [202], Concerning rail transport, Quebec has 6,678 kilometres (4,150 mi) of railways[203] integrated in the large North American network. The Ballets Jazz de Montreal, the Grands Ballets and La La La Human Steps are three important professional troupes of contemporary dance. From south to north, average temperatures range in summer between 25 and 5 °C (77 and 41 °F) and, in winter, between −10 and −25 °C (14 and −13 °F). [222] Several movie theatres across Quebec ensure the dissemination of Quebec cinema. The cabarets radically transformed the artistic scene, greatly influencing the live entertainment industry of Quebec. [45] From temperate zones to the northern territories of the Far North, the brightness varies with latitude, as well as the Northern Lights and midnight sun. Located in the eastern part of Canada, and (from a historical and political perspective) part of Central Canada, Quebec occupies a territory nearly three times the size of France or Texas, most of which is very sparsely populated. On June 27, 1775, General George Washington and his Continental Army invaded Canada in an attempt to conquer Quebec. The distribution areas of the paper birch, the trembling aspen and the mountain ash cover more than half of Quebec territory.[66]. [237], As of December 2011, there are 190 National Historic Sites of Canada in Quebec. The ecozone mixed forest covers 11.5% of the area of Quebec and is characteristic of the Laurentians, the Appalachians and the eastern lowlands forests. The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) works to promote and fund individuals working in the cultural industry. [29], Quebec has one of the world's largest reserves of fresh water,[30] occupying 12% of its surface. Quebec has produced cheese for centuries. This frontier aggression known as the Jumonville affair set the stage for the French and Indian War (a US designation; in Canada it is usually referred to as the Seven Years' War, although French Canadians often call it La guerre de la Conquête ["The War of Conquest"][87][88]) in North America. Lévesque insisted Quebec be able to veto any future constitutional amendments. In fact, you might be able to guess the capital of Quebec, but you should probably study for this quiz to get the capital of Prince Edward Island or Saskatchewan. Also, the winter of 2010 was the warmest and driest recorded in more than 60 years.[52]. Inspired by the growing success of the 6/20 Tour, Aquarium du Québec, The New Mega Parc, Musée de la civilisation, Musée du Fort, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and Observatoire de la Capitale are joining forces once again to offer visitors 20% off. Quebec also produces a great number of high-quality wines including ice wine and ice cider. Further south lie the subarctic taiga of the Eastern Canadian Shield taiga ecoregion and the boreal forest of the Central Canadian Shield forests, where spruce, fir, and poplar trees provide raw materials for Quebec's pulp and paper and lumber industries. The knowledge sector represents about 30.9% of Quebec's GDP. The Cinémathèque québécoise has a mandate to promote the film and television heritage of Quebec. Not as arid as the tundra, the taiga is associated with the sub-Arctic regions of the Canadian Shield[64] and is characterized by a greater number of both plant (600) and animal (206) species, many of which live there all year. Our team offers transactions using debt, equity or hybrid instruments, both as a direct investor and as a partner in investment funds. What worked for Carleton in 1774 was not likely to succeed in 1784. The forest industry has slowed in recent years because of the softwood lumber dispute. The former Province of Canada was divided into its two previous parts as the provinces of Ontario (Upper Canada) and Quebec (Lower Canada). By 1758 at the Battle of Carillon, the Flag of Carillon would become the basis of Quebec's desire to have its own flag. ", "Government of Canada Helps Boost Biofuel Industry", "Gros plan sur l'énergie: Production d'électricité", "Le premier ministre énonce sa vision et crée une commission spéciale d'étude", "Folk Song and Music in Quebec: a Brief Introduction, by Stephen D. Winick, Ph.D.: Expanded Liner Notes (Le temps des Fetes, Washington Revels, revelsdc.org/canadiancd)", "Notre raison d'être, c'est la musique de votre quotidien", "L'Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec", "L'Association des radiodiffuseurs communautaires du Québec, historique", "Agreement on the usage of Churches in Quebec", "About the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada – Duties", "Who won team canada's 29 medals in Pyeongchang", Justice Québec – Drapeauet et symboles nationaux, "Amiral [Toile des insectes du Québec — Insectarium ]", CBC Digital Archives – Quebec Elections: 1960–1998, Montreal Metropolitan Community (Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal), Former colonies and territories in Canada, Proposed provinces and territories of Canada, World Wars and Interwar Years (1914–1945), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quebec&oldid=992781194, States and territories established in 1867, French-speaking countries and territories, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism, All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox settlement with possible motto list, Pages using infobox settlement with possible demonym list, Pages using infobox settlement with image map1 but not image map, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from June 2019, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2012, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from September 2012, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Since 1987 the avian emblem of Quebec has been the.