Quebec's French-first law stokes business alarm over language cops

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Businesses in Quebec are looking at all the usual hurdles as they plan for next year, including the language police. Find out more.

“My biggest fear is that my business dies out because of a law that prevents me from working with the American market,” said Poirier, chief executive officer of Klever Programmatic Inc., a Montreal-based digital-advertising firm whose clients are all in the United States.Article content

Even so, there’s been a notable decline in the proportion of Quebeckers using French at home and at work, spurring Legault’s government into action. It’s restricting immigration to protect the language, and Bill 96 aims at enforcing more use of French in society. Parts of the new law will come into force in 2023.

And the OQLF can be called to verify the compliance of a company’s internal and external communications after a complaint, as well as issue fines of as much as $30,000 — more for multiple offenders. Executives and directors who contravene the law can be fined individually as well. After Bill 96 passed, executives at more than 150 companies — including dozens of technology firms and startups — signed a letter to Legault warning the law “is threatening to do enormous damage to the province’s economy” because it creates an unpredictable business environment. Pierre-Philippe Lortie, director of government and public affairs at the Council of Canadian Innovators, said Bill 96 is likely to scare off investors. “This is the reality,” he said.

Lawsuits challenging Bill 96 are already in the courts, including one by a Montreal school board that claims it interferes with the administration of English schools. In August, Quebec’s Superior Court temporarily suspended provisions requiring French translation by a certified translator for court pleadings drafted in English, deeming it a barrier to justice.

 

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Police state, encouraged by Trudeau.

Feeling like we are going backwards instead of forwards.. and no offense, but from a logical point of view more people know English around the world than French, you're kind-of crippling yourselves but, okay?

Going about it the wrong way. Bill 101 was a stable equilibrium. It seems to me that lax immigration policy and poor integration of those immigrants is to blame. Want more people to speak French? Then make French inviting rather than imposing it

Can we compare language cops with moral cops in Saudi and Iran? They are basic the same thing!

Imagine having to endure this bullshit and petty insult on top of high taxes and unrelenting bureaucracy

It’s arrogance that will sink Quebecers. Just in time for an economic slowdown too! Great timing!

Who made it a government job to foster or promote any language, culture, or religion? How about back to basics: public safety, roads & infrastructure , health care, education, and the economy. Just a suggestion.

Divide the people. In a true free society the actions of the market decide the outcome . Period . Wake up people , you are being played .

Canada will never be a united country as long as there is inequality between the provinces and territories. Quebec believes they deserve better treatment and more financial support than the others. This ongoing problem needs to be addressed yesterday.

things like this in the 70's, i was told by my parents are why lots of English speaking people left Quebec back than

Really where is the outrage from business like in Russia…

Ya think... worst idea ever for what should be a bilingual city, it is the only way Quebec will survive because Montreal is Quebec's business meal ticket.

Comme il se doit

‘Distinct’ society priorities…the English in Quebec are slowly being squashed. Reverse the roles and imagine the outcry.

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