Some
72 international organizations have
chosen Montréal, Québec City,
Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières or
Gaspésie to set up either branch or
head offices. Fields of activity
vary widely, from high technology
and sports to transportation and the
environment.
The economic spinoffs from these
mainly foreign-funded organizations
are highly significant. These
organizations spend some $300
million per year and directly create
or maintain nearly 1,700 jobs. They
are also a big boost to
international activity in Québec.
An international governmental
organization (IGO) is defined as an
association of states constituted by
means of a treaty and having a
constitution and common organs as
well as a distinct legal identity
from that of its member states. When
the Government of Québec is host to
an international governmental
organization (IGO), it concludes an
agreement granting tax benefits and
jurisdictional immunities to the
organization and its employees, and
also agrees to a whole set of
courtesy measures in accordance with
international practices.
To be eligible under the hospitality
policy, an international
governmental organization must
International non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) are
institutions created on private or
joint initiative, but not by
intergovernmental agreement, and
made up of private or public
institutions or individuals of
various nationalities. The
Government of Québec may conclude
agreements granting international
NGOs that wish to open offices in
Québec certain tax exemptions and
other benefits when they meet strict
criteria and are active in areas of
particular interest to Québec. These
benefits, which are offered to
organizations and their non-Canadian
employees, can cover such areas as
health (health insurance and
hospital provisions), immigration,
education and driving licences.
In order to benefit from the various
advantages of Québec’s hospitality
policy, international and
non-governmental organizations must
meet the following eligibility
requirements:
They must already or plan in
future to be active in areas of
particular interest to Quebec
society.
Their objectives and
bylaws must be compatible with
Québec’s Charter of Human Rights
and Freedoms.
They must be representative in
nature and their basic purpose
must be recognized
internationally.
They must have a recognized head
office with a chief administrator,
and their constitutions must have been
adopted according to democratic
principles;
They must be in a position to
speak on behalf of their members
through its authorized
representatives;
They must have an international
structure, and their members must
have the right to take part in
decisions that affect policy and
action,
Their main resources must come
from contributions from their
national sections or from individual
members.
Some
72 international organizations have
chosen Montréal, Québec City,
Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières or
Gaspésie to set up either branch or
head offices. Fields of activity
vary widely, from high technology
and sports to transportation and the
environment.
