Newcomers Information

For a listing of English-speaking community groups please see the community directory section.

211 Quebec

211 is an information and telephone referral service that connects callers to a full range of community, social and government services in the Greater Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches regions. Just dial 211.  It is free!

The Québec educational system oversees public schooling from kindergarten to university. Elementary and secondary (high school) education is available free of charge. Post secondary education in Québec is subsidized for Québec residents, making college or CÉGEP, university, and vocational training more affordable.

Elementary schools offer kindergarten to grade 6. Secondary education starts with Secondary 1 (equivalent to grade 7 in other parts of North America) and continues to Secondary 5 (Grade 11). School attendance is mandatory for all children between the ages of 6 and 16. The school year begins in late August or early September and usually finishes by late June.

The Québec public school system is language-based (English or French). The English-language school board in Quebec City is the Central Québec School Board (418-688-8730 www.cqsb.qc.ca). For a complete listing of English Schools, please visit the Community directory.

Bill 101

In 1977, Québec’s National Assembly adopted the French Language Charter (Bill 101), which states that all children must be educated in French until the end of their secondary studies, whether in a public school or a subsidized private school. It should be noted that this ruling does not apply to Québec’s colleges and universities or non-subsidized private institutions. The French Language Charter allows for certain special cases in which children are able to pursue their studies in English at public or subsidized private schools.

Enrolling your child(ren)

Anyone wishing to enrol their children in an English school (elementary or secondary) must first apply for an eligibility certificate for that child. A certificate of eligibility is usually given to children who fall into the following categories:

• Those who did most of their elementary or secondary studies in English in Canada
• Whose brother or sister did most of their elementary studies in English in Canada
• Whose father or mother did most of their elementary studies in English in Canada
• Whose father or mother attended school in Québec after August 26, 1977 and could have been declared eligible for instruction in English at that time

Youth in the following three categories may be enrolled in English-language schools:

• Youth who are permanent residents of Québec and who qualify for a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English
• Youth who are permanent residents of Québec and who are entitled to receive instruction in English under a special authorization
• Youth who are living in Québec temporarily and who qualify for a temporary authorization to receive instruction in English

Other cases may also be considered, but this is a very complex process. For additional information or assistance, contact the Central Québec School Board at 418-688-8730.
You can also contact the Ministère de l’Éducation at 1-866-747-6626 or Ministère de l’Éducation.

Language Training

Throughout the year, various French language training options are available. These include French language courses subsidized by the government (called “francisation”), private courses, community language programs and public institution offerings.  For more information contact us at 418-683-2366 or visit www.veq.ca/resources-services/improve-french/

In order to vote in a federal or provincial election, YOU MUST:

• Be on the voters’ list (applies only to provincial elections)
• Be 18 years of age or older on election day
• Be a Canadian citizen
• Have been living in Québec for at least 6 months (does not apply to federal elections)
• Not be under public curatorship
• Not have been deprived of (lost) your electoral rights

For more information about federal elections, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 or visit www.elections.ca.  For more information on provincial elections and municipal elections and how to register to vote, call the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec at 418-528-0422, or go to www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/english/

Depending on the type of job you want, finding work in the Greater Quebec City area can be challenging if you do not speak French.

Job search services

The VEQ website has a Job Bank section with English-speaking or bilingual jobs.
Also sign up for the job notifier to receive notice whenever a new position is posted (found on the right side navigation bar on the Job Bank page).
Emploi-Québec’s website also provides information about the job market, jobs currently advertised, a resume bank service and other useful tools. Visit their website at www.emploiquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/home.
The FORT Employability Program through the Valcartier Military Family Centre, offers vocational and employment counselling to English-speaking residents of the Greater Quebec City area, and is an active partner in the promotion of its English-speaking community.  You must meet the eligibility requirements to receive services from this program.  They also give employment workshops throughout the year open to everyone.  For more information on their services, contact info@crfmv.com or call 418-844-6060.

Employment Insurance

If you have lost your job and have worked for a certain number of weeks, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. For more information, please contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 or visit
www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

Social insurance number (SIN)

If you want to work in Canada, you need a social insurance number. You can get an application form at any Service Canada Centre or online at www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

Benefits

The Child Assistance Payment is a benefit paid by the Régie des rentes du Québec to all families with dependent children under 18 years of age. The amount paid depends on the number of children, family income, and family situation. There is also an allowance for children with disabilities. For more details or to register, call the Régie at 418-643-3381 or visit www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en.

The federal government also provides various benefits to families; such as the Canada Child Benefit and the Child Disability Benefit.  To apply for the federal benefits, contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-387-1193 or visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

Childcare

In Québec, the government subsidizes the cost of childcare. There are three kinds of childcare options in Québec: Child care centres (Centre de la Petite Enfance- CPE); subsidized or non-subsidized daycares, and home childcare providers.

Read more about the daycare system here: www.mfa.gouv.qc.ca/en or call 1-855-336-8568

NOTE:  There is usually a very long wait for a spot in public daycare in Québec. Be sure to put your name on the waiting list as soon as you get pregnant at: laplace0-5.com

Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP)

The Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) is designed to support parents as they raise their children in in their early childhood months.   This income replacement plan is for parents taking maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave.  To be eligible you must have received work income as a salaried employee or in a self-employed position. For more information visit www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/en.

For information on federal government services, including names of the Members of Parliament, call 1-800-OCanada (1-800-622-6232), or visit their website at www.canada.gc.ca.
Information on all federal government services and many provincial government services is available in English upon request.
Most government offices and many businesses require that all women use their maiden names. The Civil code of Québec, passed in 1981, states that: “In marriage, both spouses retain their respective names, and exercise their respective civil rights under those names.” Therefore, only women wed before 1981 can use their married name, regardless of whether or not you were married in the province of Québec.
For information on provincial government services, including the names of members of the National Assembly, call Services Québec at 418-644-4545 or visit the Québec Portal online.

• If you are unsatisfied with the service from a provincial government department, call the Québec ombudsman, the Protecteur du citoyen, at 418-643-2688 or visit www.protecteurducitoyen.qc.ca
• In Québec, the Consumer Protection Act governs transactions carried out between consumers and merchants, among other things. For example, car dealerships, furniture stores, financial institutions and telephone service providers have different obligations toward consumers. The Office de la protection du consommateur is a Québec government body. It ensures that merchants comply with this law. The Office helps consumers make informed choices to avoid any problems, and informs them of their rights and recourse options when the need arises. Visit their website at this address https://www.opc.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrants
• For legal information on countless topics in Québec you can contact Éducaloi.  They are non-profit organization that provides legal information in Québec.  For more information visit: www.educaloi.qc.ca/en/
• If you need a lawyer and are on social assistance or have a low income, you may be entitled to the services of a legal aid lawyer. To find the address of your nearest legal aid office, call 418-643-4167 or check online at www.csj.qc.ca.
• There are some foreign government offices in Quebec City, including the United States consulate. For more information please visit https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/quebec/ for a full list of consulates in Canada, showing where each one is located and giving their contact information.

Québec residents are covered by public health care.  The Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) is the government agency that manages public health insurance in Québec.  In order to qualify, you must be a Québec resident who is present in Québec for 183 days or more during a calendar year.

If you are here temporarily, you may qualify for coverage, contact RAMQ to inquire.  Visitors are not eligible.

To get your health card (often referred to as the “carte soleil”) or for more information about the Québec Health Plan, contact RAMQ at 418-646-4636 or go to http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en

When to apply:

Apply for your Québec health care card right away when you arrive here.  There is a 3-month waiting period after you apply.  The sooner you apply, the sooner you are covered.   If you are a member of the Canadian armed forces, however, there is no waiting period for you and your family.

Until you receive your Québec health insurance card, if you have moved from another province, your home province should cover most of your medical expenses.  You may, in some cases, have to pay upfront when you receive services here and ask your home province to reimburse you afterwards.  If you are coming from another country, it is strongly recommended that you get private health insurance to cover you during this waiting period.

Shortly after you submit your application for Québec health care, you will receive a letter in the mail from RAMQ confirming that they have received your request.  This letter can be used as proof of address and residence for certain services until you receive your card.

The Public Drug Insurance Plan

Everyone who resides permanently in Québec is obliged to have prescription drug insurance, either public (through the RAMQ) or private (group insurance or employee benefit plans).  If you do have access to a private plan, you must choose this option.

In order to receive services covered by the Health Insurance Plan and Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, you must present your valid health care card.  Failure to present your valid card may result in you having to pay for the services you receive.  You must then apply to the RAMQ for reimbursement using a special form for this purpose.

You are not automatically registered for the public drug insurance plan.  You need to register online or by calling the RAMQ.

Your right to services in English – Language and the law

You have the right to receive public health services in English, as long as the institution has the resources to provide them.  In a health setting, it is vital that you understand and are understood properly.  Do not hesitate to ask for services in English.  If the institution cannot provide them, you have the right to ask for an interpreter.

Your health care provider can request an interpreter (you cannot do it yourself) from the Bank of Interpreters of the Capitale-Nationale:

www.jhsb.ca/en/acces-linguistique/banque-interpretariat

811 – Info-Santé

Info-Santé is a telephone information and advice service that has nurses and social workers responding to health and well-being concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This service is available in English or French.  A Simple 3-digit number (811) is used for the entire province of Québec.

911 – Emergency Services

911 will connect you with emergency services (police/fire/ambulance). You may have to ask for English services because there is no dial option to choose French or English.

Québec Health 101 Guide

Are you new to Québec City and have questions about the health care system here? Consult our Québec Health 101 Guide.  This guide was developed with the intention of helping newcomers navigate the medical system here in Québec City with a little more ease and efficiency. This project was a joint effort between Jeffery Hale Community Services, the Community Wellness Centre and the Voice of English-speaking Québec.

VEQ’s Health Passport

The Health Passport is a tool designed to help you clearly explain your medical condition when you meet with a French-speaking health professional.

To get a free Health Passport, contact Voice of English-speaking Québec at:                 
veq.ca or 418 683-2366

Click here for the online application of the health passport. www.veq.ca/new-health-passport-app

Québec Health Booklet – Carnet Santé Québec

This is an online service that allows you to access your personal health information

quebec.ca/en/health/your-health-information/quebec-health-booklet

Before signing a lease, you should clearly set the terms with the landlord, such as the monthly rent, furnishings and appliances, and who pays what utility (electricity, hot water, etc.). You can ask to see the previous tenant’s lease. The lease is written in French unless both parties agree to the use of another language. English leases are available at the Régie du logement (RDL). In Québec, one-year leases are the norm, from July 1 to June 30. July 1 is considered moving day for most Quebecers, so if you need to rent a truck on this day, book it as soon as you can.

If you want a shorter lease term, you will have to discuss this possibility with your landlord, as it is not as common as a one year lease.   Make sure that the length of your lease is clearly written on the lease agreement.  It is also possible to have a longer term, lease, i.e. over 12 months, which will also have to be discussed with your landlord and detailed in your lease agreement.  You must give your landlord three to six months’ notice before the end of your lease, in writing, if you want to move out.

Similarly, the landlord must tell you of any changes to your lease, such as a rent increase, three to six months before it ends. You then have one month to reply. If you do not, your lease will automatically be renewed for another year, with the increases applied. You can either accept the changes and the lease is valid for another year, or you can refuse the changes and try to renegotiate. The RDL can help decide what is fair when you renegotiate if you and your landlord cannot agree.

In Québec, the size of most apartments includes a “1/2”, which refers to the bathroom. A “4 and 1/2” most often has two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom (see the vocabulary section for some helpful translations). Large appliances are not always included in the rent.

For all questions about tenant/landlord relations, call the Régie du logement at 1-800-683-2245 or visit www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca/en/

You can also learn about your rights regarding housing and property through Educaloi.  You can visit their website: www.educaloi.qc.ca/en

When you buy a house in this province, you will need a notary to prepare the legal papers. He or she will arrange the legal aspects of your mortgage with the bank of your choice. Upon buying a home, whether or not it is newly built, you will have to pay a one-time “welcome tax” to your municipality. This is a provincial law and is applicable to all municipalities.

For a list of realtors who offer services in English, see the Business directory.

For immigration related inquiries, please contact the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/   and/or Immigration, Refugees  and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship

Support Services for the Integration of Immigrants in Quebec City Region
This useful tool (available only in French currently) can help guide you to useful resources for immigrants in our region.

Project Immigration et Refugees by the University of Montréal—you can also consult this document about general legal information about immigration for the province of Québec.

Québec residents must file both federal and provincial income tax forms by April 30 of every year. Forms may be done in either English or French and must be filed with each respective agency. Your employer(s) must provide you with a receipt (i.e. T4, RL-1) stating your earnings and any deductions by March of the year after you earned the money.

You can get federal tax forms in English through your local Canada Revenue Agency office.   Call 1-800-959-8281 or visit their website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca for further information.

You can get provincial income tax forms in English through a Revenue Québec office.  To find the office closest to you contact Revenue Québec at 418-659-6299 (9 for English) or visit their website: www.revenuquebec.ca/en

Jeffery Hale’s Community Services in English offers help filing basic tax forms for low-income individuals and families. To find out more, call 418-684-5333.

Licence

If you are new to this province and have a valid driver’s licence from another province or country, you have up to 6 months following your arrival to make the transfer to a Québec driver’s licence. If you are here as a student or on a work exchange, other rules may apply. For questions about the validity of licences, contact the Société de l’Assurance Automobile du Québec (SAAQ) at 418-643-7620 (push 9 for English) or visit www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en.

To exchange your driver’s licence for a Québec license:

Call to make an appointment at 1-800-361-7620 (Canadian citizens) or 1-888-356-6616 (non-Canadian citizens)

• When you call, please verify which documents you will need to provide at your appointment.

Fees: Please note that fees and procedures will vary according to each situation.

Testing: You might be required to undergo additional testing prior to receiving your Québec license.

Registration

If you bring a car from another province or country, you have 90 days to change its registration and obtain Québec plates from the SAAQ. Your car must first pass an inspection by an SAAQ-approved garage. To find a garage near you, visit: www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/find-service-outlet/

**It is recommended that you contact the SAAQ at 418-643-7620 before going to a service outlet in order to verify which documents are required.

Insurance

The province of Québec has a “no-fault” insurance, covering all residents for bodily injury resulting from road accidents. This does not mean that dangerous or negligent drivers will not be prosecuted under the law. It means that people involved in car accidents have no legal right to sue for damages regardless of who is at fault.

All vehicle owners must carry a minimum of $50, 000 in private coverage as liability for property damages. Private insurance companies offer this and an insurance broker can help you find suitable coverage. Insurance premiums may decrease if you have previous years of driving experience transferred to your Québec driving record; to do so, you have to provide proof to the SAAQ when exchanging your licence.

For more details regarding car insurance in Québec visit the Educaloi website at: www.educaloi.qc.ca/en

Public Transit

• The Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC), the public bus system, serves many parts of the city. For more information, call 418-627-2511 or go to www.rtcquebec.ca
• Service de transport adapté de la Capitale (STAC) offers para-transit service for people with restricted mobility. Call 418-687-2641 for more information.
• La Société de transport de Lévis (STL) offers bus service on the south shore (Charny, St-Romuald, St-Jean-Chrysostome, Lévis, Lauzon, St-Étienne-de-Lauzon, St-Rédempteur, St-Nicolas, Breakeyville, and St-Lambert). Call 418-837-2401 or go to www.stlevis.ca
• La Société des traversiers du Québec is a ferry service that allows people to easily commute between Lévis and downtown Quebec City. Note: This service is free for RTC and STL monthly bus pass holders. For more information call 1-877-787-7483 or go to www.traversiers.com/en/
• Communauto is a service allowing clients to rent a car by the hour without the responsibilities that come with owning and maintaining a car. Go to www.communauto.com or call 418-523-1788 to learn more about this environmentally friendly local service.

Long-distance Travel

Bus:

• Orlean’s Express: orleansexpress.com/en, 1-833-449-6444
• Intercar: intercar.ca, 1-800-806-2167

Train:

• Via Rail Canada: viarail.ca or 1-888-842-7245

Carpooling resources:

• Kangaride: www.kangaride.com or 1-855-526-4274
• Poparide: www.poparide.com
• Ridesharing.com: www.ridesharing.com or 1-877-774-8607

Hydro-Québec is the electricity provider in Quebec City. To open an account or for more information call 1-888-385-7252 (9 for English) or visit their website at www.hydroquebec.com/en.

For telephone, cable, internet, and natural gas please compare prices of local providers to see what the best deal is for you.

Various community groups look for volunteers at different times of the year. It is recommended you contact groups that you are interested in volunteering with to inquire about their needs.

You can also volunteer in English through the community Wellness Centre at Jeffery Hale.  For more details or to sign up as a volunteer, visit: www.wejh.ca/get-involved/volunteer/ or call 418-684-5333 ext. 1550

To volunteer in French please contact Centre d’action bénévole de Québec, 418-681-3501 or visit www.cabquebec.org.

For more information about any of the above topics or to discuss any other questions you may have, please contact:

Voice of English-speaking Québec, 1270, chemin Sainte-Foy, suite 2141 Jeffery Hale Pavillion (to the right of the Jeffery Hale Hospital) Québec (Québec) G1S 2M4 By phone: 418-683-2366, info@veq.ca or visit our website at:  www.veq.ca

By phone: 418-683-2366
By fax: 418-688-3273
By e-mail: info@veq.ca

Government
city hall  *  hôtel de ville
city councillor  *  conseiller municipal / échevin
mayor  *  maire / mairesse
Prime Minister  *  Premier Ministre du Canada
Premier  *  Premier Ministre du Québec
riding  *  circonscription

Health
appointment  *  rendez-vous
blood tests  * prélèvements sanguins / de sang
doctor  *  médecin
doctor’s office  *  bureau de médecin
emergency  *  urgence
examining room  *  salle d’examen
general practitioner  *  médecin de famille
gynecology  *  gynécologie
health card  *  carte d’assurance maladie (carte soleil)
hospital  *  hôpital
laboratory  *  laboratoire
obstetrics  *  obstétrique
pediatrics  *  pédiatrie
surgery  *  chirurgie
waiting room  *  salle d’attente
x-rays  *  radiographie

Driving
back up  *  reculer
brakes  *  freins
car lights  *  phares
car registration  *  immatriculation du véhicule
driver’s licence  *  permis de conduire
hood  *  capot
motor  *  moteur
oil change  *  changement d’huile
one way  *  sens unique
flashing light  *  clignotant
slow down  *  ralentir
standard  *  manuel
steering wheel  *  volant
straight ahead  *  tout droit
tires  *  pneus
traffic lights  *  feu de circulation
trunk  *  coffre
tune-up  *  mise au point
u-turn  *  demi-tour
windshield  *  pare-brise
windshield washer  *  liquide lave-glace
windshield wiper  *  essuie-glace

Services
ambulance  *  ambulance
firefighters *  pompiers
fire station  *  poste de pompier
police  *  police
police station  *  poste de police
public transportation  *  transport en commun

House Hunting
accommodations  *  logement
apartment  *  appartement
appliances  *  appareils ménagers
basement  *  sous-sol
bathroom  *  salle de bain (toilettes)
bedroom  *  chambre
dining room  *  salle à manger
dishwasher  *  lave-vaisselle
dryer  *  sécheuse
electricity  *  électricité (Hydro)
elevator  *  ascenseur
everything included  *  tout compris
fireplace  *  foyer
furnished  *  meublé
heated  *  chauffé
hot water  *  eau chaude
house  *  maison
janitor  *  concierge
landlord  *  propriétaire
laundry room  *  buanderie
lease  *  bail
living room  *  salon
mortgage  *  hypothèque
parking  *  stationnement
partially-furnished  *  semi-meublé
property (land) *  terrain
quiet  *  tranquille
refrigerator  *  réfrigérateur
renovated  *  rénové
roommate  *  colocataire
storage  *  rangement
stove  *  cuisinière
tenant  *  locataire
washer  *  laveuse

Banking
automatic teller  *  guichet automatique
debit card  *  carte de débit
deposit  *  dépôt
direct payment  *  paiement direct
loan  *  prêt
money  *  argent
paycheque  *  chèque de paie
withdrawal  *  retrait
safety deposit box  *  coffret de sûreté

Shopping
clothing store  *  boutique de linge/vêtements
corner/convenience store  *  dépanneur
drug store  *  pharmacie
grocery store  *  épicerie (supermarché)
hardware store  *  quincaillerie
shopping mall  *  centre d’achats/ centre commercial
store  *  magasin

Directions
Où se trouve… / Où est…?  *  Where is…?
la salle de bain  *  bathroom
l’hôtel (m)  *  hotel
le restaurant  *  restaurant
le musée  *  museum
la banque  *  bank
le bureau de change  *  money exchange
l’église (f)  *  church
le cinéma  *  movie theater
le théâtre  *  theater
l’école (f)  *  school
la poste  *  post office
le parc  *  park
l’hôpital (m)  *  hospital
le commissariat  *  police station

Visit our Québec Expressions Section