The Charter of the French Language, adopted in 1977, was assented to on June 1, 2022, to reinforce the status of French as the only official language in Quebec, with implications for businesses, professional orders, public administration, workers and consumers.
The mission of the Office québécois de la langue française (Quebec Board of the French Language) is to ensure compliance with the Charter and to ensure that French is the normal and usual language when it comes to work, communications, commerce and business.
How does this new legislation affect your business? First, let's look at the impact it has on your obligations, followed by the francization process, registration deadlines, the francization committee and, finally, the consequences of non-compliance.
Your company's obligations
- Respect your employees' right to work in French.
- Use French in all written communications with employees.
- Use French in all documentation related to job offers, employment contracts, training and work conditions.
- Attempt, by reasonable means, to avoid requiring knowledge of a second language to obtain or retain a position.
- Ensure that French is predominant on your outdoor public signage.
- Respect the right of consumers to be informed and served in French.
The francization process and its steps
The Office de la langue française has set up a francization process in order to make French the language customarily used in the workplace. The steps are the same, no matter the size of your company.
- Registering with the Office de la langue française: complete their registration form to provide general information about your company's structure and activities. Deadline: covered in the points below
- Analysis of your company’s language situation: use the form to analyze the use of French in your company's general operations and in your communications. Deadline: 3 months from the date of issue of the registration certificate
Important note: if the Office considers that the use of French is widespread in your company, you won’t need to complete steps 3, 4, 5 and 6. Proceed to step 7.
- Francization program request: submit a francization program proposal that addresses the elements to be corrected according to sections 140, 141 and 142 of the Charter of the French Language.
- Submitting the program to the Office: submit the program to the Office for approval.
Deadline: 3 months from the date of receipt of the program request notice
- Approval of the francization program: receive a confirmation that the program is in compliance with sections 140 and 143 of the Charter of the French Language.
- Implementation of the francization program: implement francization program measures according to schedule and submit an annual report to the Office on progress made during the year. Deadline: 12 months from the date of receipt of the program certificate
- Certification: receive the francization certificate following step 2 (if the Office had deemed that the use of French was widespread in your company) or following compliance with the implementation of the program in your company.
- Ongoing francization: submit a triennial report to the Office on the evolution of the use of French in your company, in accordance with section 146 of the Charter of the French Language. Deadline: every 3 years following the date of receipt of the francization certificate
Registration deadlines according to company size
All companies operating in Quebec are required to register; the only difference is the timeframe based on the company’s size.
- If your company is under federal jurisdiction and employs 50 people or more, you must register within 6 months.
- If your company is under federal jurisdiction and employs between 25 and 49 people, you must register by June 1, 2025.
- If your company is under provincial jurisdiction and employs 25 people or more, you must register within 6 months.
- If your company is under provincial jurisdiction and employs between 25 and 49 people, you must register by June 1, 2025.
The francization committee
Companies with more than 100 employees are required to set up a francization committee and submit its composition to the Office at the time of registration. This committee is responsible for steps 2 to 8 of the francization process and may receive assistance from the Office advisors as needed.
Consequences of non-compliance with the francization process
In the event of non-compliance with its obligations as part of the francization process, a company may be ordered by the Office to comply with the Charter or to stop contravening it. Failure to comply with this order constitutes an offence and is punishable by a fine of $3,000 to $30,000.
At Bedard Human Resources we can help you manage and implement the francization program. Don’t hesitate to contact Stéphane Pépin for more information on our human resources solutions. He can be reached by email at spepin@bedardressources.com.
