Quebec goes ahead with new French signage rules, delays requirements for appliances

The Quebec government will go ahead with its rules requiring all signs on commercial businesses, aside from the company name, to be predominately in French by June 2025. 

But the rules requiring appliance manufacturers to add French to their engraved markings, such as those on ovens, coffee makers and washing machines, will be postponed to maintain the supply chain. 

Aside from some minor changes, the regulations published in the province's Official Gazette Wednesday are essentially the same as those published in draft form in January.

Businesses have one year to give French at least twice as much space on their storefronts as any other language as part of the government's ongoing effort to protect Quebec's official language, said Jean-François Roberge, minister of the French language.

"Our objective is clear: to ensure that the French landscape of Quebec is clearly predominant in commercial signage," Roberge said in a statement. 

"It's a question of respect for North America's only French-speaking nation. We must also ensure that companies respect consumers' right to be informed and served in French."

WATCH | How Quebec's language law will affect store signage: 

See how supersized some store signs could get under new Quebec rules

10 months ago

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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.

While businesses are allowed to keep their names and logos in English, for example, the new rules stipulate that a description in French must take up two-thirds of the facade's signage.

"To ensure the clear predominance of French, the public display visible from the exterior of the premises of a trademark or company name must be accompanied by terms in French, including a generic term or description of the products or services offered, or a slogan," the regulation states. 

Roberge says the majority of businesses' signs already conform with the rules. 

Business leaders predict high cost for compliance

In January, the province estimated compliance will cost Quebec businesses $7 million to $15 million to comply. Experts and business leaders have since contested that estimate.

"Certain companies, without naming them, have calculated that the regulatory changes will cost them between $20 and $25 million. And that's just for one," said the Retail Council of Canada's Quebec chapter president, Michel Rochette.

His organization called for a three-year delay between the publication of the new rules and their entry into force because certain brands will have to pay significant sums to comply — costs that could be passed on to consumers.

This update to the province's Charter of the French language came into force Wednesday and will be enforced next year — with fines ranging from $700 to $30,000.

Roberge said Quebec's French language watchdog, the OQLF, will have more resources to enforce the law and help businesses successfully comply with the new rules.

François Vincent, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, said these new rules mean costly paperwork and red tape for entrepreneurs.

Vincent recommends all businesses look into the new rules and do what is needed to avoid hefty fines. And he's particularly concerned about the future of labelling in the province.

"Every product that they are selling will have to have a majority of French on it, so it's bigger than people think," he said.

U.S. concerned about regulations

The updated rules will also require French on product labels as originally planned in the draft regulations. 

But in a statement, Roberge's office said appliances are exempt for now. 

"That's to come later. We're continuing the analysis," said a spokesperson via text. 

Typically ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators sold in Quebec have inscriptions in English, but eventually, buttons that say "bake," "rinse" or "temperature" will need to be in French. 

Embossed words, like those found on appliances or a car's dashboard, are currently exempt under Quebec's language charter as long as they don't concern safety.

Manufacturers have said appliances can't easily be adapted or replaced to comply with the law, and experts have said Quebec consumers will have fewer choices and inevitably pay a higher price.

Earlier this month, U.S. government officials discussed the possibility of trade sanctions against Canada as a result of the new regulations, CBC News learned. The U.S. government is also being told that Bill 96 could affect the availability of products throughout Canada — not just to Quebec.

According to the documents, officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) have debated whether the legislation contravenes trade agreements between Canada and the United States, but they did not offer a conclusion.

Karl Blackburn heads the Conseil du patronat du Québec, which represents the interests of employers and business leaders in Quebec. In a news release, he said his organization has been fighting the government's proposed labelling regulation.

"I am satisfied to see that our demands have borne fruit and clearly demonstrated to the government that it was on the wrong track," he said of the government delaying some labelling requirements.