For information on federal government services, including names of the Members of Parliament, call 1-800-OCanada (1-800-622-6232), or visit their website at www.canada.gc.ca.

Information on all federal government services and many provincial government services is available in English upon request. All government phone numbers and website addresses can be found in the yellow pages of the phone book, which include maps, business listings by heading, government (the pages with the blue edges list federal, provincial, and municipal numbers) and an alphabetical list of businesses.

Most government offices and many businesses require that all women use their maiden names. The Québec civil code, passed in 1981, states that, “In marriage, both spouses retain their respective names, and exercise their respective civil rights under those names.” Therefore, only women wed before 1981 can use their married name, regardless of whether or not you were married in the province of Québec.

For information on provincial government services, including the names of members of the National Assembly, call Services Québec at 418-644-4545 or visit the Québec Portal online at www.gouv.qc.ca.

• If you are unsatisfied with the service from a provincial government department, call the Québec ombudsman, the Protecteur du citoyen, at 418-643-2688 or visit their website at www.protecteurducitoyen.qc.ca.
• If you need a lawyer and are on social assistance or have a low income, you may be entitled to the services of a legal aid lawyer. To find the address of your nearest legal aid office, look in the yellow pages of the phone book under “Aide juridique” or online at www.csj.qc.ca.
• There are some foreign government offices in Quebec City, including the United States. For more information please visit www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-in/Canada for a full list of consulates in Canada, showing where each one is located and giving their contact information.

 Vocabulary:  Government
city hall                               hôtel de ville                                                     
city councillor                   conseiller municipal / échevin                   
mayor                                  maire / mairesse                                             
Prime Minister                   Premier Ministre du Canada                                      
Premier                                Premier Ministre du Québec                     
riding                                    circonscription