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Quebec
is located in eastern North America, and borders Ontario (west),
New York (south), Vermont (south), New Hampshire (south), Maine
(south-east), New Brunswick (east), and Newfoundland & Labrador
(north-east). About 90 percent of Quebec’s territory lies on the
Canadian Shield. The Shield is a vast space that contains small
rounded hills, interior plains and valleys, and numerous lakes and
rivers. The site
of the first permanent French settlement in North America, Quebec
is unique in North America because the vast majority of its population
is of French descent and speaks French as a first language. "La
belle Province", as it is nicknamed has attempted to redefine
its status within the Canadian Confederation several times in its
past. Everything from gaining "special status" to outright
separation has been attempted, but Quebec remains
a province within Canada.
Population
& Geography
Total
Area: 1,542,056 sq km / 595,391 sq mi1
Population:
7,700,800 (2007)1
Capital
City: Quebec City
Largest
Metro Areas: Montreal: 3,695,800; Quebec City: 728,900; Sherbrooke: 166,500; Saguenay: 151,800; Trois-Rivieres: 143,800 (2007)1
Economy
GDP:
$249.397 billion USD (2006)1
GDP
per capita: $32,386
USD (2006)1
Unemployment
Rate: 7.2% (2007)1
Government
Premier:
Jean Charest (Lib) (2007)2
Legislative
Assembly: 48 Liberal (including Premier),
41 Action Democratique du Quebec, 36 Parti Quebecois (2007)2
Other Information
Federal Representation:
49 Bloc Quebecois, 12 Liberals, 11 Conservatives, 2 Independents, 1 New Democrat (2007)3
Origin
of Name: Comes from the Algonquin word meaning narrow
passage or strait. It originally referred to the area of Quebec
City and the narrowing of the river at Cape Diamond.4
If Quebec were to become the 51st state today...
Area
Rank: 2nd
biggest State (bigger than Texas, smaller than Alaska).5
Population
Rank: 13th
most populous State (bigger than Washington, smaller than Virginia).5
GDP
Rank: 16th biggest economy in US (bigger than Indiana,
smaller than Maryland).6
Congressmen:
11 House Representatives and 2 Senators.
Electoral
Votes:
13
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