Store Signs Could Be Very Different by 2025
Bryan Laprise
Quebec still isn't content with the amount of language laws that have been put in place. Following the new rules in the educational sector that will be put into effect in August, including the university tuition hikes for out-of-province students for the funding of French institutions, of which Bishop's University was ruled exempt, Quebec moves on to commercial laws.
The new law project was published on January 10 of 2024. It will force businesses whose names don't originate from the French language or a person's name (such as Tim Horton's and McDonald's) to update their storefront signs so French is the "clearly predominant" language. This can be done by adding a generic term about the store larger than the logo, or adding a tagline that takes up as much room as the logo.
Jean-François Roberge/Facebook
There are many uncertainties in many aspects of the law project. For example, Dollarama which is neither a French or English word.
A 45-day period for businesses and individuals to provide comments on the project started upon the publishing of the draft law.
If the act passes, it will come into effect on June 1, 2025, at which date any companies not complying with the new regulations can be fined if they are reported to the Office Québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
The law is also directed towards all products. Any items not already doing so will have to have a French translation of the product description.
Estimated costs from $7 million to $15 million are estimated by the Government of Québec for the compliance of the laws by companies. Expenses include new signs, updating trademarks and all the administrative steps required to do so. Many think these costs don't merely match the massive consequences on a countless number of stores. Costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars per location.
Many are concerned, including Biden administration
The United States government is worried about the impacts the law will have on American businesses. An advisor for the US Trade Representative shared their concerns "about trademark provisions of Quebec’s Bill 96 and their potential implications for U.S. businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises."
In the coming weeks and months, it will be important for the government to address the concerns raised by all involved Quebec, national and United States parties in order to minimize fear related to the réglement.
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