Quebec is generally a safe place, with the exception of a few "bad" neighbourhoods of Montreal and Quebec City. Visitors should use common sense when traveling, as they would anywhere else.
internet
Most hotels and hostels offer internet access and many have onsite computers for guests to use. Montreal has a free WiFi program called Ile Sans Fil Wireless Island, look for the sticker in cafe and restaurant windows.
respect
It is considered respectful to refer to Quebec citizens as Quebecer Québécois and not French-Canadian. Most citizens of Quebec who are not separatists still feel more Quebecois than Canadian.
Generally, expressing yourself in French is considered by Quebecers as a sign of respect and is much appreciated. People working in the tourism industry often speak several languages. Many young people especially in the Montreal area are perfectly bilingual and will speak in English if they see you struggling. Don't be afraid to ask for a French lesson; most locals will be happy to teach you a couple of words.
Québecâs language is key to the provinceâs cultural identity, and its inhabitants battled for several centuries to preserve it against the odds. Quebecers have heard it all when it comes to making fun of their linguistic particularities, so itâs best to avoid this. In Québec, "French from France" isnât "real French"; on the contrary, it is associated with a foreign accent. Quebecers view it as an insult to be told they donât speak "comprehensible" French, or to be asked whether they can speak "proper" French. Avoid this.
Like in several Canadian provinces, it is officially prohibited to smoke inside public buildings, including restaurants, bars and theatres. It is also forbidden to smoke within a nine-metre 30-foot perimeter of the doors to public buildings there is often a visible line delineating this perimeter in front of hospitals, CLSCs, etc. and it is forbidden to smoke anywhere on school property.
touchy subjects
The issue of sovereignty is an extremely complicated and emotional issue that is almost sure to cause hard feelings if you bring it up. Also, note that some residents who aren't souverainistes seriously speak of Quebec as a nation with its own national parks, national assembly, and national capital. To further complicate matters, there are innocuous local translations for the word "nationale" that do not contemplate a sovereign nation-state, such as the Canadian Parliament's acknowledgment of a Quebecois nation. The discussion of Quebecois politics is therefore best left to Quebecois and Canadians.
Although Quebec is part of Canada, you'll see fewer maple leaf flags, and the Quebec media outlets don't really emphasize connections with the ROC "Rest of Canada". In the end there are definitely more Quebec flags flying than maple leaf flags, sometimes even with the Quebec flag at the highest point! In many ways Quebec is a nation within a nation even calling Quebec City its "national" capital. Some Quebecers may consider the display of the Canadian flag to be an inflammatory symbol of Canadian "dominance"; while others see the numerous displays of the Quebec flag as overzealous ethnic nationalism. Phrases like here in Canada or as a Canadian may make your conversational partner ill at ease. Depending of the region, very few people will celebrate Canada Day July 1st but Quebec's National la Saint-Jean Baptiste on June 24th is probably the most important party throughout the province. In fact, the holiday of the first of July is traditionally used by most Quebecers for moving to their new apartment or house.
Note also that Quebec is not France. Jokes about French stereotypes Jerry Lewis, poor hygiene, eating frogs' legs, and especially "surrendering" will bring puzzled stares, or at best show that you have no idea which continent you're on. It is as illogical as applying British stereotypes to Americans just because of the historical and linguistic ties. Also, comparing Quebecois culture and language unfavourably to France's is probably not a path to go down, either. Although Quebec and France have many ties, the Quebecois typically regard themselves as a distinct culture quite separate from the country that "abandoned" them three centuries ago.
talk
Canada is officially bilingual on the federal level, meaning that most federal government official documents, signs, and tourist information will be presented in both French and English. Staff at retail shops, restaurants and tourist attractions will often speak English, especially in Montreal. Smaller establishments, especially outside Montreal, may not offer services in English but try their best to accommodate travelers. About 8% of the province's residents speak English as a mother tongue, and an additional 31% consider that they can get by speaking it.
The official language of Quebec, however, is French. Provincial government signs highway signs, government buildings, hospitals, etc. are generally posted in French only. Tourist information is offered in English and other languages. The visibility of commercial signs and billboards in English and other languages is restricted by law except for English-language media and cultural venues such as theatres, cinemas and bookstores. Most businesses will not have signs in English except in tourist areas and localities with a large English-speaking population. Language is a very sensitive subject politically, particularly in Montreal. If you cannot read a sign in a store or restaurant, most sales people will be sympathetic and help you find your way. Most restaurants in tourist areas will supply English menus if asked.
82% of Québecâs population is francophone, but English is also commonly spoken, particularly in the provinceâs major cities such as Montréal where the percentage is 24%. For French-speaking people from elsewhere, the French spoken in Québec is often difficult to understand. Books have been published on Québec expressions, and these may be worth consulting if you are planning to stay in Québec for any length of time.
Isolated from France for centuries, and unaffected by that country's 19th-century language standardization, Quebec has developed its own "accent" of French similar to the one in France in the 16th century, a kind of time capsule. The continental variety--called "international French" or français international here--is well-understood, and something closely approximating it is spoken by broadcasters and many businesspeople. While Quebecers usually understand European French, European tourists may feel lost until they grow accustomed to the local accents.
There are a few main differences between Quebecois French and continental French-from-France. One is that in Quebec it's relatively common to tutoyer use the familiar tu second-person pronoun instead of vous when saying you for all, regardless of age or status though there are common exceptions to this in the workplace and the classroom. In France, it would be considered impolite. The unrelated interrogative particle -tu is used to form yes-or-no questions, as in On y va-tu? "Shall we go?" Finally, there are a number of vocabulary words that differ, particularly in very informal contexts for example, un char for a car, rather than une voiture, and some common expressions C'est beau [literally It's nice] for "OK" or "fine". Overall, however, pronunciation marks the most significant difference between Quebec and European French.
Probably the most puzzling difference in Quebec's French is that one will often sacrer blaspheme or swear rather than using scatological or sexual curse words. Terms like baptême baptism or viarge deformation of vierge, virgin have become slangy and taboo over the centuries in this once fervently Catholic culture. Hostie de tabarnac! "communion wafer of the tabernacle!" or just tabarnak! is one of the most obscene things to say, and more polite versions like tabarnouche or tabarouette are equivalent to "darn" or "fudge!"
Although sacre may seem funny, be assured that Quebeckers, particularly the older generation, do take it seriously. Don't sacre any time you don't really mean it! But be sure that younger Quebeckers may be fond of teaching you a little sacrage lesson if you ask them.
English-speaking Quebeckers are generally bilingual and reside mostly in the Montreal area, where 25% of the population speaks English at home. Aside from the occasional borrowing of local French terms "dépanneur" as opposed to corner store or convenience store, their English differs little from standard Canadian English, including the occasional "eh" at the end of the sentence; accents are influenced heavily by ethnicity, with distinct Irish, Italian, Jewish, and Greek inflections heard in Montreal neighborhoods. Conversations between anglophones and francophones often slip unconsciously between English and French as a mutual show of respect. This can be confusing if you're not bilingual, and a look of puzzlement will generally signal a switch back to a language everyone can understand.
Although English-speakers will usually greet strangers in French, it is considered pretentious and overzealous for a native English-speaker to continue a conversation in French with other English speakers though two francophones will easily converse together in English when in a room of anglophones. Local English-speakers may also refer to street names by their English names as oppose to the posted French names, but this is getting rarer for example, Mountain Street for rue de la Montagne, Pine Avenue for avenue des Pins.
Some French-language radio stations, including those with "classic rock" formats may play English language music.
See also: French phrasebook