Locations

Overview - Montreal and Quebec

The Montreal Metropolitan Area is composed of 27 boroughs located on the Island of Montreal (the new City of Montreal), Ile Jesus (Laval), and the north and south shores of the St. Lawrence River. Montreal, comprising of 3.1 million inhabitants, is the second largest Canadian metropolitan region (Toronto comprises 3.9 million inhabitants). It contains 43% of the province's population and 11% of the Canadian population. It also absorbs 90% of the province's influx of immigrants. The demographic growth rate is currently estimated to be 0.7% per year, as compared to 0.4% for the Province of Quebec and 1.0% for Canada.

Province of Quebec

The Province of Quebec is the largest province in Canada in territorial mass, and second in terms of population and economic impact, accounting for 23% of Canada's population and 22% of Canadian GDP. Although culturally apart from Canada due to its religious and linguistic heritage, Quebec plays a leading role on all national issues. Quebec is renowned for its extremely high quality of life, coupled with its low cost of living.

Demographics

Quebec is perhaps the definition of a pluralist society, drawing on its Francophone and Anglophone heritage, but also the many immigrants with Italian, Jewish, Greek, Portuguese, Haitian, and Vietnamese backgrounds who live throughout the province. Although a predominantly French speaking Province, Quebec has the highest rate of bilingualism of all provinces, and in fact over 650,000 residents speak a third language as their mother tongue. The Province accepts an average of 30,000 immigrants annually and the population is expected to grow at 0.5% annually.

Economy

With abundant natural resources that have fueled the economy since its European exploration in the 16th century, Quebec is a leading exporter of forestry products and raw minerals. Its current industrial base includes automobile manufacturing and assembly, aluminum smelting, and aerospace, which continue to play a major role in the economy. However, Quebec has always been at the forefront of technological change, developing expertise in the fields of telecommunications, hydroelectricity, pharmaceuticals, software, and biotechnology, which will propel the provincial economy in the 21st century.

Quebec Economic Growth Highlights

• The provincial economy will create 59,000 jobs in 2005.
• Quebec exports grew by 4.2% in 2004 and will accelerate to 4.3% in 2005.
• Quebec retail sales will be robust at 4.1% in 2005, and decline to 3.8% as consumer consumption retreats with higher debt servicing costs.
• Interest rate pauses will continue to buoy residential construction market.

Quebec Fiscal Situation

The Liberal Party took over power in 2003 from the Parti Quebecois and immediately implemented a more business friendly agenda. The budget has been balanced, and tax relief is expected following two years of investments in health care and education, the two fastest growing portfolio's of the Provincial Government.

Characteristics	Montreal	Quebec
Population in 2001	3,426,350	7,237,479
Population in 1996	3,326,447	7,138,795
1996 to 2001 population change (%)	3.0	1.4
Population projection (2006)	3,563,000	7,386,,000
Population projection (2011)	3,648,100	7,428,800
Total private dwellings	1,473,491	3,230,196
Population density per km²	846.6	5.3