Quebec's tougher language laws begin for signage, packaging and workplaces
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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.
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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.
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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.
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'They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness,' he said. 'It's a question of capacity and authorization.'
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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