Latest news with #FrenchLanguage
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
From signs to packaging, new language rules come into effect in Quebec
Social Sharing New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Here are five things to know about the latest language regulations. French must be "markedly predominant" on store signs Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. "They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness," he said. "It's a question of capacity and authorization." WATCH | What store signs might look like under new Quebec language rules: See how supersized some store signs could get under new Quebec rules 1 year ago Duration 5:17 We dig into the bold draft regulations the government announced in early 2024 as a part of its updated language laws, the costs and signage involved, and the many questions that remain unanswered. But last week, French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. "It's possible to do it," he said. Product packaging rules have been tightened Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like "lavender and shea butter" hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. This particular rule caused the U.S. government to list Bill 96 as a trade irritant earlier this year. Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. "So this is really frustrating for many of them," he said. Smaller businesses must register with language watchdog Quebec already requires businesses with 50 or more employees to undergo a "francization" process to ensure French is the dominant language in the workplace. That requirement is now being extended to companies with 25 to 49 employees. The businesses must register with Quebec's language watchdog, the Office québecois de la langue française. François Vincent, Quebec vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the majority of small businesses in the province already operate in French. "We're going to ask small entrepreneurs ... to fill out paperwork, only to be told that everything is fine," he said. Fines can reach $30,000 a day Businesses in violation of the new rules can be fined $3,000 to $30,000 per day for a first infraction, and up to $90,000 per day for a third offence. "This can lead to huge fines," Vincent said. However, Roberge has said the language office won't be looking to slap immediate fines on non-compliant businesses, as long as they're taking steps to fix the problem. Business groups asked for more time Rochette and Vincent issued an open letter last week asking for an extension from the Quebec government. They say the province had promised companies would have three years to adapt to the new rules. Bill 96 became law in 2022, but the final version of these regulations was only published in June 2024. The government confirmed Friday that the regulations would take effect on June 1, as planned. "In one year, there's time to do a lot of things," Roberge said earlier in the week. "We are disappointed because we thought it was important to give more time for business owners to comply," said Vincent. "These are complex rules that will create more red tape and more costs for small businesses." Jean-Philippe Mikus, an intellectual property lawyer, said there will likely be legal challenges around the interpretation of the new rules.
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
Quebec's tougher language laws begin for signage, packaging and workplaces
New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. Article content Article content The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. Article content The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Article content Article content Article content Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two-thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. Article content 'They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness,' he said. 'It's a question of capacity and authorization.' Article content Article content But last week, French-language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. 'It's possible to do it,' he said. Article content Article content Article content Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. Article content The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like 'lavender and shea butter' hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. Article content Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. 'So this is really frustrating for many of them,' he said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Five things about Quebec's new language rules for businesses
MONTREAL — New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Here are five things to know about the latest language regulations. French must be "markedly predominant" on store signs Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. 'They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness,' he said. 'It's a question of capacity and authorization.' But last week, French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. 'It's possible to do it,' he said. Product packaging rules have been tightened Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like 'lavender and shea butter' hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. This particular rule caused the U.S. government to list Bill 96 as a trade irritant earlier this year. Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. 'So this is really frustrating for many of them,' he said. Smaller businesses must register with language watchdog Quebec already requires businesses with 50 or more employees to undergo a 'francization' process to ensure French is the dominant language in the workplace. That requirement is now being extended to companies with 25 to 49 employees. The businesses must register with Quebec's language watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française. François Vincent, Quebec vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the majority of small businesses in the province already operate in French. 'We're going to ask small entrepreneurs … to fill out paperwork, only to be told that everything is fine,' he said. Fines can reach $30,000 a day Businesses in violation of the new rules can be fined $3,000 to $30,000 per day for a first infraction, and up to $90,000 per day for a third offence. 'This can lead to huge fines,' Vincent said. However, Roberge has said the language office won't be looking to slap immediate fines on non-compliant businesses, as long as they're taking steps to fix the problem. Business groups asked for more time Rochette and Vincent issued an open letter last week asking for an extension from the Quebec government. They say the province had promised companies would have three years to adapt to the new rules. Bill 96 became law in 2022, but the final version of these regulations was only published in June 2024. The government confirmed Friday that the regulations would take effect on June 1, as planned. 'In one year, there's time to do a lot of things,' Roberge said earlier in the week. 'We are disappointed because we thought it was important to give more time for business owners to comply,' said Vincent. 'These are complex rules that will create more red tape and more costs for small businesses.' Jean-Philippe Mikus, an intellectual property lawyer, said there will likely be legal challenges around the interpretation of the new rules. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
No deadline extension for businesses to conform to Bill 96 rules: Roberge
Quebec is turning down a request from business groups to extend the deadline to comply with provisions of Bill 96. Quebec is turning down a request from the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to extend the deadline to conform to new language laws. With just two days until provisions of Bill 96 come into effect, they say businesses need a 'reasonable delay' to iron out details and change all signs and labels, as per the government's initial commitment. 'The last thing we want to do is criticize a measure related to the protection of the French language. On the contrary, we want to defend, promote and spread the French language. But to achieve this, we must also provide retailers with a clear and realistic path forward,' Michel Rochette, president of the RCC for Quebec, said in a news release. The CFIB has a countdown to when the new provisions for businesses regarding public signs and posters, trademarks appearing on products, and francization will come into effect in large red lettering on its website. When Bill 96 was introduced in 2022, a three-year transition period was promised but the specific rules were only announced in the summer of 2024. 'This leaves businesses with barely a few months to adjust to significant requirements, particularly in terms of signage, municipal authorizations, validation by the (Office québécois de la langue française), and the management of cultural, specialized, and short-lived products,' Rochette laments. 'They had enough time' to adapt: Roberge But Language Minister Jean-François Roberge dismissed their concerns while speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Thursday. 'I think they had enough time,' he said, adding that 'the important thing is to show the OQLF that they are moving forward, and they will follow the law.' Roberge said he is aware that not all stores are conforming to Bill 96's provisions, but 'they will in the next few months.' But the organizations say the francization process is a headache for small and medium-sized businesses. Filling out a 20-page document can take up 54 hours of work, said the RCC. Chains have to make changes in several branches, which the RCC and CFIB say is expensive and 'some are already in the millions of dollars.' They say these extra costs for stores jeopardize the competitiveness of local businesses when online retailers are not subject to equivalent constraints. 'It is not by imposing unrealistic deadlines that we strengthen French, but by focusing on clarity, predictability and the commitment of businesses to a promising collective project,'' said François Vincent, CFIB Vice-President for Quebec. The Official Opposition remains divided on the issue. Parti Québécois MNA Joël Arseneau echoed Roberge's comments, saying, 'They can do it, they can do it quickly, and they have to do it. It's a matter of respect of the official language of Quebec and they are just trying to stretch the limits, and we don't agree with that.' Interim Quebec Liberal leader Marc Tanguay called Bill 96 'a bad piece of legislation' and said the government should be listening to retailers and helping them out. 'This is not what's going to protect the French language,' he said.
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Quebec passes bill requiring immigrants to adopt shared values
The Quebec legislature has passed a bill requiring immigrants to embrace the common culture of the province. Newcomers to the province must adhere to shared values including gender equality, secularism and protection of the French language. The law is Quebec's answer to the Canadian model of multiculturalism that promotes cultural diversity. The Quebec government believes the Canadian model is harmful to social cohesion. Quebec can use the new law to withhold funding for groups and events that don't promote Quebec's common culture. Critics have said the legislation is an attempt to assimilate newcomers and could stoke anti-immigrant sentiment.
