Quebec is a French speaking province in north eastern Canada. It is the largest of the 10 Canadian provinces. Most of its population lives in the southern parts of the province. Quebec has a strong economy based on skilled workers, natural resources and its ability to adjust to economic change. Water is one of Quebec’s most important natural resources. The province has more than one million lakes and rivers. This includes the St. Lawrence River, one of the longest rivers in the world which flows for about 1200 kilometres through Quebec.
Settlement in Quebec
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General
- Directory of Organizations Serving Immigrant Settlement Needs – A search tool (in French only) that allows you to find settlement and integration services in your area.
- Learning About Quebec Guide – A comprehensive guide to settling in Quebec including information on employment and the job search, housing, values and foundations of Quebec society, learning French, and welcome and integration assistance services.
- Welcome to Canada: Publications for Newcomers – Publications by the Government of Canada to help you know what to expect in your first few weeks of coming to Canada.
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Government Services
- Quebec Immigration – Official site of the government of Quebec.
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Information for immigrants, refugees and visitors to Canada. Includes employment authorization, immigration applications, sponsorship and services available to newcomers.
- Service Canada: Services for Newcomers to Canada – Information about Government services for newcomers to Canada from acquiring personal documents to employment and raising a family.
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Health Care
The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec – Quebec governmental site explaining how to obtain provincial health insurance and services.
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Housing
- The Société d’habitation du Québec – the SHQ prepares and implements policies and programs in the housing sector, and is also responsible for the largest social housing inventory in Québec.
- Quebec Immigration–Finding Out About Housing – Tips and links from Quebec Immigration.
- Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation – Canada’s national housing agency. Information on buying a home, renting a home, mortgages, maintaining a home, safety in the home, renovations, and more.
- Rent Quebec Apartments – Housing rental search for various Quebec cities.
- Craigslist – Housing rental search for various Quebec cities.
- Canadian Real Estate Association’s Multiple Listing Service – Property information from realtors across Canada.
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Legal
- Canadian Citizenship & Immigration Resource Center – Immigration law site features information on Canadian immigration and Canada employment placement services and visas.
- Canadian Human Rights Commission – Promotes knowledge of human rights in Canada, and to encourage people to follow principles of equality. To help reduce barriers to equality in employment and access to services.
- Justice Laws Website – provides Canadian law information in plain, straightforward English.
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Transportation
- Service Canada: Driver’s Licence – Links to each province’s driver’s licence information page.
- Public Transit Systems in Quebec – Links to QC cities’ public transit websites.
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Cultural
- Immigration-Québec: Why Choose Québec? – Offers a portrait of Quebec including common values, social characteristics and history, quality of life, different regions, and Québecois expressions.
- Government of Canada: Arts, Culture and Heritage – Learn about the vibrant people and cultural industries that contribute to the creation of a Canadian cultural identity.
Education in Quebec
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International Credentials
- Obtaining an Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec – Everything you need to know about credentials assessment in Quebec.
- Canadian Information Centre For International Credentials – Collects, organizes and distributes information in regards to recognition of educational and occupational qualifications. It does not grant or assess qualifications, but rather promotes and provides information in this area.
- World Education Services – Established in 1974, WES is a not-for-profit organization specializing in foreign credential evaluation. Their major purpose is to facilitate the integration of internationally educated individuals into the employment and education environment of their newly adopted country.
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Language
- Immigration Quebec–French Language – Outlines the variety of ways to learn French–the official language of Quebec. French as a second language classes are available free of charge in Quebec.
- Canadian Language Benchmarks – The Learner Gateway for the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) provides an overview of Canada’s national language assessment system.
- CELPIP – Designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada for those applying to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Class, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and under various Provincial Nominee Programs.
- IELTS – IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency by 7000 organizations worldwide.
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College and University
- StudyinCanada.com – Comprehensive listing of universities and colleges in Canada. Also contains scholarship and career information as well as virtual tours of selected schools.
- CanLearn – CanLearn provides Canadians with the information and services they need to decide what and where to study and how to cover the costs. The site aims to provide all the necessary resources (from interactive planning tools to information about savings programs, student loans, and scholarships) to Canadians facing important decisions when saving for, selecting and financing their post-secondary education. This is a Government of Canada site.
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Daycare, Primary and Secondary Schools
- Immigration Quebec–Childcare Services – The Québec government has created a network of childcare services that offers various resources: Québec Day Care Centre Network.
- Immigration Quebec–Education – Find out about the public education system in Quebec. Includes sections on primary and secondary schools for your children.
- Daycare Bear: The Canadian Childcare Providers Information Network – of childcare providers across Canada.
Employment in Quebec
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Government Services
- Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) – Government of Canada’s website helping foreign-trained workers succeed in Canada. It provides valuable information for newcomers, persons planning to immigrate to and work in Canada, employers and various FCRO partners such as regulatory bodies and immigrant serving organizations.
- Immigration Quebec–Employment – A guide to finding gainful employment in Quebec. A good starting point.
- Working in Canada – Government of Canada’s site providing employment information for newcomers to Canada. Find out about jobs, wages, qualifications, and what you need to to before and after arriving in Canada.
- Canadian Labour Market Information – General and detailed information on local labour markets across Canada.
- National Occupational Classification & Career Handbook – Since its introduction in 1992, the National Occupational Classification system continues to be the authoritative resource on occupational information in Canada. The NOC is used daily by thousands of people to understand the jobs found throughout Canada’s labor market.
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Vocational Services
- InfoRouteFPT – Central website for vocational and technical training in Québec. This mega site holds many MEQ dossiers and offers several products and services directly related to education and employment.
- Alliance pour L’Accueil et L’Integration des Immigrants et Immigrantes Montreal – Service professionnel, gratuit et personnalisé d’orientation et de recherche d’emploi.
Le nouvel arrivant sera en mesure de s’insérer au marché du travail avec de bons outils en main. - Accueil pour Immigrants et Refugies du Sud-Ouest de Montreal/Centre Prism Montreal – Faciliter la transition et l’adaptation au marché du travail des nouveaux arrivants en leur fournissant un accompagnement individuel ou en groupe.
- L’Hirondelle: Services D’Accueil et D’Integration des Immigrants Montreal – Le service d’employabilité et de placement de L’Hirondelle, créé en 1992, fournit au nouvel arrivant un encadrement, une orientation et un accompagnement visant à lui donner toutes les chances d’intégrer rapidement le marché du travail.
- Ometz – Ometz is a Jewish response to employment and immigration in Montreal.
- Women’s Centre of Montreal – Employability development services aim to facilitate the integration of women into the labour market. Offer specialized employment services for newcomer and immigrant women in Montreal.
- Service D’Orientation at D’Integration des Immigrants Au Travail Quebec – Que ce soit à travers nos rencontres individuelles ou nos ateliers collectifs, nous vous aidons à préciser vos besoins professionnels, à comprendre et démystifier les codes culturels du monde du travail québécois et à développer des techniques efficaces de recherche d’emploi. Grâce aux services et outils mis en place par le SOIIT, vivez un accompagnement qui facilite l’arrimage culturel. Trouvez votre place sur le marché de l’emploi.
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Self-employment
- Emploi Quebec–Support for Self-Employment – Explains the basics of self-employment in Quebec.
- Canada Business–Services for Entrepreneurs – Provides information and support to develop your ideas and business plan, registering your business name, buying and financing a business, and various checklists and guides.
- Strategic Canada’s Business and Consumer Site – Timely business and consumer information: start a business and explore new markets, research trade and investment data by product or industry, keep up with technological innovation, access a library of consumer information.
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Trades
- Red Seal Trades – List of trades that fall under the Red Seal Program-a program maintaining the standard of excellence for skilled trades across the country.
- Guide de la Qualification Professionelle – Provides support services to help immigrants work in the trades in Quebec.
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Job Search Websites
- Job Bank – Job Search, Job Match, Job Alert, Résumé Builder and Career Navigator tools are available, as well as a Training and Careers section that will help you identify career options. Also discover the latest trends, employment prospects and salary ranges of skilled trades and occupations. (A Government of Canada Site).
- Public Service Commission of Canada – The Public Service of Canada offers a wide variety of employment opportunities in many fields and areas of specialization.
- Quebec Public Service – Search for careers in the provincial public service (French only).
- Workopolis – A source for finding employment and contract work in Canada. Search millions of jobs in all industries.
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Professional Associations
Canadian Professional Organizations of Canada– Comprehensive list of professional associations in Canada.