Although New France
became a British territory in 1763, the influence of a
French cultural heritage is tangible in various aspects
of Que´bec’s day-to-day life and institutions. More
than 80% of the population’s mother tongue is
French. Que´bec’s legal system is predicated on a civil
code that has its roots in the French Napoleonic
Code. In short, Que´bec culture is characterized by
an inclination to favor social rights over individual
ones, and a significant degree of receptiveness
towards regulation.