Quebec City: Population: 715,515 (2006 census)

Quebec City is the Capital city of Québec province since 1867. Located at a narrows in the St. Lawrence River (the name "Québec" was a native word meaning where the river narrows) 250 km east of Montréal and about 850 km north of New York City.

In 2002, the city was merged with Beauport, Cap-Rouge, Charlesbourg, Lac-St-Charles, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Lauretteville, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Ste-Foy, St-Emile, Sillery, Val-Bélair and Vanier. The new city preserves the flag and arms of the former Québec.

Quebec City is considered the economic engine of Eastern Québec with the second largest urban economy in Québec, and the seventh largest in Canada.

Québec City has highly developed tourism industry hosts 6,000,000 visitors a year (the historic district of Old Québec-the region's primary draw-was declared a World Heritage Treasure by UNESCO on December 3, 1985).

With a rapidly expanding economy, notably in the fields of culture, high technology, and information technology, Québec City is home to numerous research centers located in close proximity to Laval University.

Fifteen industrial parks and zones, including a 1,350,000 m2 high-tech park straddle the cities of Québec and Sainte-Foy.

Québec City's Deep sea port is open year round with some 17 million metric tons of cargo and some 100 cruise ships pass through the port each year. Major pulp and paper production center. Headquarters for numerous insurance companies and financial institutions.

Numerous major events including: Québec Summer Festival, Québec Winter Carnival, Expo-Québec (agricultural and business fair), New France Days, Plein-Art (arts and crafts), Carrefour international de théâtre, the Québec International Book Show, Estival Juni'Art (young talent), are testimony to the rich culture of Quebec.

Over 27 museums and interpretation centers, including Musée du Québec, Musée de la Civilisation, Musée de l'Amérique française and the Urban Life Interpretation Center of the City of Québec Québec Symphony Orchestra and Opera Numerous professional theater groups A network of public libraries offering a variety of services.

The City is divided into electoral districts, each represented by a municipal councilor who sits on City Council.

Public participation in the democratic workings of the city comes through neighborhood councils. These structures, which are unique in Québec, offer an opportunity to the public to make its views known outside election time and to be consulted on issues that will have an impact on the city's urban environment.

The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the "Historic District of Old Quebec".

The Sovereignty Question:

In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened Montréal up to the world, and in 1967, the world came to Montréal. The Expo 67 World's Fair highlighted the culmination of Québec's "Quiet Revolution," a period marked by a resurgence of pride in Québec's French cultural heritage, a lessening of the influence of the Catholic Church and a determination to assert Québec's place among modern nations of the world.

In the 1970's, debates over the supremacy of the French language crystalized around the province. In 1976, the Parti Québécois was voted into power, led by charismatic René Lévesque. In 1980, in a popular referendum, Québec voters rejected the proposition of sovereignty-association with the federal government of Canada. In October, 1995 a second referendum on Québec independence was also defeated by a narrow margin.