How come when you go to Quebec in Canada, it's not like Canada at all?

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Dunrobin

They want to be distinct from the rest of the country, and have the blessing of the federal government in achieving this. Their language sign laws were ruled unconstitutional but they were allowed to keep them anyway, they are the only province with control over immigration, their health care system is run differently, and they have a different legal system. I've not been there for 25 years so can't speak about the shops, etc., but that would be an extension of the fact that they wish to march to their own drummer.

I really don't know what difference independence would make to their lives, aside from inevitable higher taxes.

old lady

Pretty much every Canadian province is unique in one way or another, and several other provinces have etheir own gas companies, food chains etc.
If it was just like Ontario, it wouldn't be Quebec. And if BC was just like Saskatchewan, it wouldn't be BC. And if Alberta was just like Newfoundland, it wouldn't be Alberta.
Just for a comparison, how do you think someone from outside the USA would think if they visited California and then went to Texas. Or visited Maine and then went to Hawaii. Or visited Arizona and then went to Alaska.
It's the same way in Canada. Each province is special and each is unique, and that's the way we like it.

We are not terrorists ÙŠØ§ Ø¹ÙŠÙ†ÙŠ

Newfoundland is even more distinct than QuÃ©bec.

MrCool1978

Cause the French-Canadians have a very different culture than the rest of Canada.

Well, I am from Montreal so I will try to answer the best I can. Quebec is simply a different culture by virtue of the BNA Act of 1867. Although he British won the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759), the French fact was allowed to flourish within the British Empire. As such, the French culture was able to grow with their Civil Code of laws intact. The rest of Canada uses British Common Law. Also, the french have always had a more artistic flair when it comes to life, as such our culture and way of life is more flamboyant. We also take great pride in our own accomplishments and encourage our own homegrown businesses. It is simply a matter of Pride.

Note also that Newfoundland (a great place BTW), and the western provinces also offer a different reality. Truth be told, all of Canada has unique cultures from east to west and north to south, we call it the cultural mosaic.

nellierslmm

Canada is like a patchwork quilt. You need many different pieces to make a beautiful whole.

Each province is unique, and you will find shops in Newfoundland that you won't find in Alberta. Many people (i.e. non Canadians) think Canada=Ontario. It couldn't be farther from the truth. B.C. is exceptional, but is not like Toronto either. New Brunswick has a large French speaking community, but is not much like Quebec, we're all different and beautiful.

As for the architecture, you have to remember Quebec was first colonized by French people. So a lot of the historical monuments, as well as the older buildings, will have a French feel that you will find nowhere else, except maybe in some parts of Louisiana. And when the French culture met English culture when England won in 1760, it created a great mish-mash of things. There is actually a street in Quebec City that has French architecture on one side, and English architecture on the other.

Goddess of Grammar

I don't know about the gas stations; it's possible that there are some in Quebec that aren't in ON, and there are a few independently-owned stations, but more likely you just happened to notice more of some in QC than ON. Grocery stores and restaurants tend to be a bit more local, so there probably are some in QC that aren't in ON and vice-versa. (And some in NB that aren't in QC, and some in the US that are only in some parts of Canada.)

The other thing is, some chains of stores have a different (French) name in Quebec, even though they're the same chain. For example, the drug store chain Shoppers Drug Mart is called Pharmaprix in Quebec.

BCOL CCCP

because they think they are something they are not!