Individual rights and responsibilities

All Quebecers, either by birth or immigration, have rights and responsibilities. All Quebecers have the right to freely choose their lifestyle, values, opinions, and religion. Every person has the responsibility to abide by all the laws, even if they are incompatible with their religion or personal values.

For example, men and women have equal responsibilities and equal rights under the law, in both public and private life. Homosexuals also have the same rights and responsibilities as all other citizens of Québec.

These fundamental values are reflected in Québec institutions. For example, marriage may unite not only a man and a woman, but also two people of the same sex. Polygamy and polyandry are illegal. Women who marry keep their maiden name. Only civil divorce is legal under Canadian law; the repudiation of one spouse by another has no legal value. In the event of divorce, the couple’s assets are shared equally between the two spouses.

Two persons may also enter into a civil union. In Québec, civil union was designed for couples, consisting of persons of the same or opposite sex who wish to make a public commitment to live together and respect the rights and obligations entailed. It is a type of conjugality that is equivalent to marriage.

In Québec society, it is very common for two people to choose to live together without entering into marriage or a civil union. This mode of living together is known as a de facto union.

Québec law recognizes three types of conjugal status: marriage, civil union and de facto union.

As for children, the law obliges their parents or guardians to give them the security and attention necessary for their development. The use of violence against children, a spouse or any other person is forbidden, which makes female circumcision illegal.

Acces to information

Québec has an Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information. It allows access to documents held by the government and protects personal information of citizens concerning tax, medical, education or other fields.

Useful links

• Québec interculturel
• Québec government portal – The Rule of Law
• Ministère de la Famille, des Aînés et de la Condition féminine