Language of work, commerce and business in Quebec

If you’re a business operating in Quebec, but based elsewhere, you might not be familiar with the nuances of the Charte de la langue française and the Office québécois de la langue française. This isn’t uncommon because, as a francophone province, Quebec reserves the right to publish this information exclusively in French, making it challenging for anglophone business-owners and English companies to understand and follow all the rules.

For example, did you know that under article 139, companies employing 25 or more people in Quebec for six months must register with the Office québécois de la langue française no later than six months after the end of that period? But it’s not just a matter of filing the right paperwork; what follows is an analysis of the linguistic situation within the company. This covers every piece of written and verbal communication, from hiring forms and internal manuals to social media marketing and software. Would your company pass that kind of evaluation?

If you don’t, the next step is the Francization Program to make corrections per the objectives of the Charte. The company then implements the measures in the francization programme following the planned timetable. Companies undergoing the francization process receive the Office’s support and coaching services. The Office guides them through each stage of the process, directing them to its various language services and helping them find solutions tailored to their needs. It periodically reviews the progress made and then submits a report on the implementation of its programme to the Office yearly. The company distributes its programme and reports on its implementation to its staff.

Once the use of French has been generalized at all levels of the company, the Office issues the company with a Francization Certificate. The company then must ensure that the use of French remains widespread at all levels. Every three years, it must submit a three-year report to the Office on the development of the use of French in the company. 

Under the law, all companies have obligations concerning the language of work, commerce, and business. In particular, they must respect the fundamental right of workers to carry out their activities in French. They are also required to respect the right of consumers of goods and services to be informed and served in French. Those who don’t conform likely aren’t doing so on purpose, but because the challenges involved in navigating this information, which exists exclusively in French, are significant. 

So, the big question is, what happens if I don’t conform? This might seem like more work than it’s worth, but before you decide that, take a look at the penalties. First, companies without a francization certificate cannot be awarded Quebec government contracts or grants, but on top of that, Article 205 indicates “a fine of $700 to $7,000 and, in any other case, a fine of $3,000 to $30,000”. What it doesn’t clarify is how the final figure is established, and the range between $700 and $30,000 is a little concerning to me.

So, if you need help navigating the process, preparing for the evaluation, or just understanding the contents of the Charte, reach out and I can help with consultations, evaluations, and translations.

*Please note this post is not intended as legal advice, but a translation and explanation of sections of the Charte de la langue française.