Since the coming into force of the Loi sur la langue officielle et commune du Québec, French (commonly known as Bill 96), the linguistic landscape of business in Quebec has profoundly transformed. This law strengthens the role of French in all areas of Quebec societies, including commercial, digital, and legal communications of buissesses.

Why does Bill 96 exist?

Bill 96 seeks to protect and promote French as the official and common language of Quebec. It amends and reinforces the Charte de la langue française (often called Bill 101) to ensure that French is central to workplace relations, consumer services, communications, and digital platforms.

To whom does Bill 96 apply?

Even if your company is based in another Canadian province, Bill 96 may still apply if you have clients in Quebec, offer goods or services accessible from Quebec (on-site or online), or regularly communicate with Quebec consumers.

In other words: the law applies not only to businesses established in Quebec, but also to those that interact with the Quebec market.

What are the main obligations?

Here are the key obligations that any business must understand to be compliant when serving customers in Quebec:

Providing communications in French

All content intended for the Quebec public, including websites, digital platforms, applications, marketing, emails, notices, and commercial documents must be available in French with a quality equivalent to any other language.

Customer service in French

Customer service must be available in French. This includes direct interactions by phone, chat, or email, as well as all documents provided to consumers (contracts, invoices, quotes, warranties, etc.).

Legal documents and contracts

Consumer contracts and other legal documents provided to Quebec clients must be drafted in French, unless the client expressly chooses another language.

Signage and trademarks

If your products are sold in Quebec, labels, packaging, and advertising signage dispays must  present French predominantly  compared to any other language.

Why these requirements matter

Failure to comply with Bill 96 may expose a company to financial penalties, inspections by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), and reputational risks among a large francophone customer base.

Practical tips for compliance

To reduce risk and optimize your presence in the Quebec market, here are some concrete steps: Conduct a linguistic audit of your content and systems, Invest in professional translation and localization (including Quebec French ), Update websites and digital platforms with a complete French version, staff training on linguistic requirements and internal processes to ensure ongoing compliance

Conclusion

Bill 96 is not only a regulatory constraint: it is also a strategic opportunity to strengthen relationships with Quebec’s francophone consumers. By adopting appropriate linguistic practices, you not only comply with the law but also enhance your credibility, trust, and commercial effectiveness in this dynamic market.

At PMECDV Language school, we support Canadian businesses and public institutions in developing the language skills of their sales and customer service departement to serve Quebec consumers effectively in French.