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CBC
5 days 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
5 days 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
5 days 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
Globe and Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Quebec business groups seek 11th hour relief from language law deployment
Quebec retailers and small businesses are urging Premier François Legault's government to push back the implementation of new French language obligations set to take effect in just four days, saying the province hasn't given them enough time to comply. The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) say Quebec needs to show flexibility with its new law, commonly known as Bill 96. Otherwise, they say, it risks bruising businesses at a difficult time as they deal with other major challenges such as tariff troubles and an economy likely plunging into recession. 'The last thing we want is to criticize a measure aimed at protecting the French language. On the contrary, we want to defend, promote, and help it flourish,' Michel Rochette, RCC's Quebec president, said in a statement released Wednesday. 'But to achieve that, we need to provide retailers with a clear and realistic path forward.' The last-minute plea underscores the frustration many companies feel when governments introduce legal changes without offering sufficient time for businesses to adapt. But in Quebec, it's particularly problematic because many business leaders feel the new rules go too far. In a bid to correct a language pendulum it says is swinging too far away from the use and adoption of French in daily life, Mr. Legault's government enacted a major update of Quebec's Charter of the French Language that came into force in June 2022. The law imposes stricter French language requirements for companies and empowers citizens to sue businesses that fail to serve them in French. It also tightens the use of languages other than French on product packaging, signs, and commercial advertising. And it requires small businesses with 25 to 49 employees to register with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) and begin a francization process. Previously that requirement was only for bigger businesses. The government pledged a three-year transition period but the rules spelling out many of the details of the requirements weren't released until the summer of 2024. And that's left companies scrambling to figure out what they need to change and how to change it before the June 1 deadline. In some cases, they need approvals from third parties, such as landlords or municipalities, to make signage changes to their storefronts, which can take time. In other cases, particularly with smaller businesses, they often lack the resources to devote money and energy to what some view as a non-critical task. 'It's not by imposing unrealistic timelines that we strengthen the French language — it's by focusing on clarity, predictability, and encouraging businesses to embrace a meaningful collective project,' said François Vincent, CFIB vice-president for Quebec. He didn't specify what a reasonable implementation deadline would be. Several major retailers that have English words in their store banners appear to be offside with the new regulations. A CFIB survey released in February found fully half of respondents said they weren't ready for the regulatory changes to come into force. One-third said they weren't even aware of the new requirements. François Roberge, Quebec's minister responsible for the French language, told Radio Canada earlier this month that the government might be willing to provide some wiggle room on signage change times but vowed not to back down on any aspects of the law. He said if businesses have started to work on comply measures they wouldn't be reprimanded, even if that work isn't complete. Quebec estimates it will cost businesses in the province $50-million to adhere to the new standards. Trade groups say the actual figure will probably be much higher. Sanctions for a company that's non-compliant range from $3,000 to $30,000 for a first offence and up to $90,000 for a third offence. Company directors are presumed to have knowledge of the offence and could incur personal liability accordingly, according to a recent summary by law firm McMillan LLP.
