Last week, the news emerged that the long-debated Bill 96 was finally coming to the fore in Québec.
Bill 96 seeks to change the Canadian Constitution to ensure that French is recognized as the only official language of the province. Simon Jolin-Barrette, the Quebec minister responsible for the French language, insists that his desire is to ensure that French is protected as the “common language” in Québec.
François Legault, the province’s premier, also supports Bill 96, suggesting that his “priority is to protect the French language” and that he is concerned about the lack of French in Montreal. The Legault government is thus seeking to implement Bill 96, a move that has the capacity to impact business owners.
The impact of Bill 96
If Bill 96 becomes law, business owners doing business in Quebec may experience increased challenges. Indeed, the greater emphasis on French may tighten the language requirements for companies to operate in Canada’s second-largest province. For instance, any signage that contain non-French trademark names must ensure that French writing is “markedly predominant” compared to any other languages. The Bill grants a period of three years for companies to comply.
For companies already doing business in Quebec, the regulations of Bill 101 that used to apply to larger employers would now also apply to workplaces with 25 to 49 employees. Those employers who do not have enough French spoken in the workplace will have to put in place measures to promote French and work toward obtaining their ‘francisation d’entreprise’ certification.
We reached out to the OQLF for comment on Bill 96 and the broader impact on future business, but they replied by indicating that they could not comment at this point in time.
At LAT Multilingual, we help entrepreneurs do business in Québec by offering top-notch translation and marketing adaptation services. We do more than merely translate your words from English to French. Our knowledgeable team ensures that your message is culturally adapted to appeal to your customers.
We help your business succeed in Québec by localizing your message. Marketing and communications such as slogans, taglines, and the very nuances of how you get your message across need a tailored approach. At LAT, we aim to capture the true essence of your product and marketing campaign to ensure your business reaches its full potential in Québec.
The latest statistics suggest that Québec’s population is just surpassing 8.5 million people. The vast majority have French as their first language. In other words, it behooves business owners to ensure they’re capable of marketing their products and services in a manner that is clear, engaging, and persuasive to the francophone population in Québec. To reach Canada’s second-largest province, you need a solid language partner. Working with us is an investment, one that can certainly allow you to keep growing your business.
If you think your company may benefit from our services, contact us! We’re here to help, and we look forward to helping you accomplish your business goals.
