Latest news with #OQLF
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Libman: No vacation from language law excesses in Quebec
Even during the political dog days of summer, we can't seem to escape the absurdity and frustration caused by Quebec language law excesses. Every few weeks something else provokes a head slap. This week we learned about a barbershop owner in St-Léonard who — six months after opening his local business — started being hounded by Quebec's French-language watchdog (OQLF) regarding everything from his store signage to his online presence — informed, as the owner put it, that he was being 'too loud on Instagram with my English.' Earlier this month, we discovered that LaSalle College, a bilingual institution, is being fined $30 million by the CAQ government for enrolling too many students in its English-language programs, exceeding a cap established by Bill 96 aimed at public CEGEPs and subsidized private colleges like LaSalle. The school says international students, who make up about 70 per cent of those enrolled in English-language Attestation of College Studies, where the government claims it exceeded its cap, are entirely self-funded through tuition fees, with no subsidies from the government. This excessive aspect of Bill 96 is another counterproductive and short-sighted example of Quebec shooting itself in the foot. LaSalle College offers pre-university and technical programs, teaching various trades, skills and vocational training — essentially feeding our labour force, which is in desperate need of nourishment. Last month, the onerous new rules and regulations in Bill 96 regarding signage and packaging came into effect. The bill, adopted in 2022, allowed a three-year implementation window — but the regulations were published only last summer — forcing merchants to wait, then scramble to comply. Stores with trademark names, such as Canadian Tire, Footlocker and Best Buy, or any business with another language in its name, must change their signage to include a translation or a generic description in French on storefronts, occupying at least two-thirds of the area devoted to text. Municipalities have provisions in their zoning bylaws that often limit the size and scope of signage. The costs and inconveniences caused by these overzealous rules represent an infuriating impediment, among others, for many businesses. These new signage regulations also conjure up satirical images of language inspectors in trench coats showing up with tape measures, analyzing proportions and dimensions of a sign. With Bill 96, it takes only one complaint, even anonymous, to launch an investigation that could lead to hefty fines. The new rules on packaging could severely impact trademarked collectibles or specialty items made only in other countries, such as guitar strings or other music supplies, that can no longer be sold here if not labelled in French. Merchants will either go through hoops to do their own labelling — likely passing the price on to consumers — or be unable to provide certain items and take a hit, as customers turn to Amazon. We can expect the OQLF will send out secret shoppers to sniff out scofflaws. In France, the 1994 Toubon Law made French the official language, imposing its use in various contexts, including official communications, commercial contracts and advertising. However, that law is more accommodating, with exceptions for trademarks and in recognizing the importance of regional languages and linguistic diversity. Quebec's excesses make for embarrassing headlines abroad as with Pastagate, Bonjour-Hi and the Go Habs Go fiasco. There was a 60 Minutes report in 1998 that sardonically followed a language inspector on the job. Incidents that shine light on Quebec as an object of ridicule are inevitable when laws contain elements of intolerance, with regulations that go too far. They not only harm our province's image, economy and attractiveness, but they also caricature — and thereby undermine — the importance of protecting French itself. It's time to rethink language excesses, including the OQLF itself, unless we want one notable trademark sign to exemplify our province — Banana Republic.
Global News
18-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Montreal barber shop threatened with $30K fine from Quebec language watchdog
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The owner of a barber shop in Montreal's Saint-Leonard borough feels he is an unfair target of Quebec's OQLF French language watchdog. The owner of the Corner Shop barbershop has been warned several times that he is violating the law for not only his outdoor signage, but also his English posts on social media. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Jesse Padulo says the provincial government has warned him that he has until July 29 to change his sign or else he will face a fine of $30,000. Padulo told Global News inspectors from the OQLF showed up about six months ago following a complaint over his sign. As Global's Elizabeth Zogalis reports, the language watchdog also began targeting his social media posts. For the full story, watch the video above.
Montreal Gazette
18-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec language watchdog targets barber for ‘too much English' — on sign, website, even Instagram
When Jesse Padulo opened The Corner Shop barber business in Montreal's St-Léonard neighbourhood, he never imagined his biggest challenge would be Quebec's language watchdog. 'I've been open a year,' he said. 'Six months in, the watchdogs came.' Since then, the 42-year-old father of six says he's been hounded by the language office over everything from his store signage to his online presence. He's taken down his website, removed his 'open' sign and started adding French subtitles to his Instagram posts, all in an effort to comply with demands he says keep changing. At the heart of the dispute is Bill 96, Quebec's sweeping language law passed in 2022. It gives the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) expanded powers to ensure businesses prioritize French. 'They said my shop was too much English. I said: 'OK, no problem. So what do we do?' They told me to contact them. I think it was March. I said: 'I don't work for you. I'm not going to contact you. Contact me. I'm running a business.' And they never contacted me,' Padulo said. 'Then I got two more letters saying my website had too much English, so I shut it down. Then they sent me another letter saying I'm too loud on Instagram with my English. Since when do you have jurisdiction over a public platform? 'They didn't really know how to answer me,' he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pads the barber (@the__pad) But Padulo believes the complaints began shortly after he started speaking openly about his Christian faith online. A devout Christian, he named the shop in reference to the Bible's 'cornerstone.' 'The cornerstone in the Bible was the stone of the community. We're a community barber that we're trying to teach kids how to barber, about the Lord, you know, good values — and that's where the name came from,' he said. 'We're not even on a corner,' he added. Now, Padulo says he feels stuck after being told he must change the sign out front. That would cost him about $4,000 — money he says he doesn't have. But if he doesn't, he could face fines of up to $30,000 per day, which would force him to close the store. His sign already includes French, but Padulo says the OQLF told him that wasn't enough. 'They said the French has to be bigger than the English.' He points out all his customers are English-speaking, making the changes feel forced and out of touch with the reality of his business. He's planning to launch a GoFundMe campaign this week to help cover the costs. 'People know me here,' he said. 'The community supports me. What I don't get is why I'm being punished for serving the people who actually come through the door.' Padulo has a phone call scheduled with the OQLF this afternoon. 'I'm not expecting good news,' he said. 'I'm not the problem,' he said. 'I just want to run a business, not fight a government.' The OQLF did not respond to The Gazette's request for comment before publication time. But in a statement to CTV News, the watchdog said that online videos must be in French, adding: 'They may also be in other languages, provided that they are accessible in French under conditions that are at least as favourable.' This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
St-Léonard barber battles OQLF over English signs, social media
A St-Léonard barbershop owner says the OQLF is targeting his business over English content on his storefront and Instagram. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual A St-Léonard barbershop owner says he's spending as much time dealing with Quebec's language watchdog as he is cutting hair, after being flagged for using English on both his storefront and Instagram account. Jesse Padulo, who opened the Corner Shop barbershop a little more than a year ago, said inspectors from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) first showed up at his business about six months ago. 'It's been rough ever since. So instead of me cutting hair I'm going back and forth with emails and trying to run my business,' Padulo said. He says the OQLF initially took issue with his outdoor sign, before focusing on his Instagram content. In a letter, the language watchdog cited Article 52 of the French Language Charter, which prohibits publishing commercial content on social media in a language other than French. In a statement to CTV News, the OQLF said that even videos have to be in French. 'They may also be in other languages, provided that they are accessible in French under conditions that are at least as favourable,' the watchdog said. Padulo also has a file for his outdoor sign because the OQLF says French must take up twice as much space as other languages, and non-compliance could result in hefty fines, reaching as much as $30,000 a day. 'I'm here to give a haircut, not a French lesson. If you walk in, 'Bonjour/hi, qu'est-ce que tu veux, what would you like?' I'll do it in both languages,' he said. The OQLF confirmed that it had received a complaint regarding Padulo's signage, adding that it was currently being processed. 'One fine and I close the doors, and I go on welfare.' Padulo said he is currently stuck in limbo and unsure what the next problem will be. 'I'm feeling stressed because I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, how can I give this service to my clients? So, what happens? Everything just decreases because they walk in and I'm not the same Jesse,' he said. Padulo noted that he will not be changing his storefront sign.
Montreal Gazette
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Letters: Give the OQLF a reason to investigate
Maybe it's time to overwhelm the Office québécois de la langue française with a flood of complaints about English signage — call it peaceful bureaucratic resistance. If the agency is going to micromanage every sign, let them chase shadows. And once the absurdity reaches a peak, people should alert international media. Let the world see how language policy can tip into parody. Lois Baron, Montreal Not the time for language complaints Re: ' Spike in service complaints to OQLF ' (The Gazette, July 4) Quebec's medical system cries out from a lack of funds, and now the education system will see much-needed services affected after the government ordered at least $570 million in cuts. Plus, seeing as we eagerly encourage tourists to come boost our economy, we need to be at minimum bilingual. In these circumstances, how can the OQLF be justified? It is time to give Montreal a break and allow it and its population to survive. Sandra Sterling, Snowdon Bilingual signs boost water safety Re: ' There have been five drownings near Verdun beach in last four years ' (The Gazette, June 25) It is alarming that in Quebec, protecting French from a sea of English apparently includes endangering the well-being of English-speaking Montrealers and tourists. After two tragic drowning deaths recently at Verdun beach, the local TV news showed several apparently French-only signs at beaches along with Raynald Hawkins, the Lifesaving Society's executive director for Quebec, declaring that all beach visitors should follow water safety instructions. Along with French-only provincial road signs, one wonders if unilingual safety signs may have had a part in some deaths and injuries over the years. George McArthur, Montreal Other options for Alzheimer's patients Re: ' Canada is falling behind on treatments for Alzheimer's disease ' (Opinion, June 26) Hope is a dangerous thing, and although we should welcome treatments for insidious and devastating diseases such as Alzheimer's, we shouldn't let enthusiasm cloud our judgment. The scores we should be looking at for these new drugs — clinical improvements in cognitive scores — have barely shown more significance than placebo, and we still don't know how long the benefits persist. Not to mention high dropout rates in trials due in part to side effects such as brain swelling. Factor in the price of over $20,000 per year, and there are other interventions that are more cost efficient for patients in our publicly funded health-care system. Aylon Wisbaum, pharmacist, Côte-St-Luc Respect from U.S. in the cards Re: ' Canadian mistrust of the U.S. remains high, new poll finds ' (NP Montreal, July 3) I play online bridge against players from all over the world. You get to play two deals against new opponents, who then move on to other opponents. When they arrive, I always chat: 'Hello from Montreal, bonne chance.' I've been amazed at how many Americans reply: 'We love you, I didn't vote for him, ' or words to that effect. Gary Bernstein, N.D.G. Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@ We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or 'open letters' addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be.
