The French language is an integral part of Quebecers’ identity and contributes to the charm of La Belle Province. As a welcoming language in businesses, it is the soul and personality of Montreal and Quebec. RCC works closely with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) in order to inform and equip merchants to comply with the provisions of the Charter of the French Language in-store and online.
Your Obligations as of June 1, 2025
Does your company employ 25 to 49 people? Would you like to know your obligations regarding French Language so that you are equipped to do business in Quebec? The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) is your business partner to make this happen!
As of June 1, 2025, businesses employing 25 to 49 people will be required to register with the OQLF to undertake a francization process and thus generalize the use of French in their operations. This process can be started today. To do so, the companies concerned must fill in the registration form (in French).
We also invite you to consult Mémo, mon assistant pour la francisation (in French) to familiarize yourself with the obligations set out in the Charter of the French Language. And we want to remind you that we remain at your service if you have any questions or comments.
Articles
- Important Changes to Language Requirements Coming into Effect on June 1
As of June 1, 2025, new obligations under the Charter of the French Language (Bill 96) will come into effect for all businesses operating in Quebec. These include stricter rules for: RCC continues to advocate for greater flexibility to protect operational continuity under the new obligations stemming from Bill 96, especially in sectors that rely heavily on … Continued - Molière Awards 2025 and Breakfast with the Minister of French Language
Last week, RCC presented the 2025 Molière Awards to Penningtons, Kaseme, Latulippe, and the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) for their outstanding commitment to the French language in digital services, in-store experience, and customer communications. This annual award presentation is made possible thanks to Léger and its study on the use of the French language … Continued - French Language Regulation
The final regulation on the language of commerce and business, amending the Charter of the French Language, was published this morning in the Gazette officielle du Québec. This regulation stems from Bill 96, adopted in 2022. Despite retailers’ support for the French language, RCC is disappointed that one of its key demands – to allow … Continued
Resources
- Charter of the French language
- Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business
- Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec (in French)
- Modernization of the Charter of the French language
- Draft Regulation to amend mainly the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business (in French)
- RCC’s submission on the draft Regulation (in French)
- MÉMO – Businesses with less than 50 employees in Québec (in French)
- MÉMO – Le français, en six thèmes gagnants pour votre entreprise (in French)
- Podcast Le français au travail : le bon réflexe (in French)
Guides in French - Guide – les obligations des entreprises relatives à la Charte (PDF)
- Démarche de francisation – Entreprises de 50 personnes ou plus au Québec (PDF)
- Guide – les obligations des entreprises relativement aux produits offerts au Québec (PDF)
- Guide – les médias sociaux et la Charte de la langue française (PDF)
- Un virage numérique profitable en français (PDF)
Videos
Importance of the quality of French on the economic health of businesses (online content)
Importance of the quality of French on the economic health of companies (social networks)
Molière Retail Awards
Each year, in conjunction with the presentation of Leger’s annual WOW studies (In-store and Digital), RCC and the Office québécois de la langue française, present the Molière Retail Awards. This distinction recognizes the excellent use of French by merchants operating in Québec.
- Retailer that has made special efforts to improve the quality of French in ONLINE services and communications over the past year: PENN. / Penningtons
- Retailer that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the information or documentation available ONLINE on the website or mobile application: SQDC
- Retailer whose use of the French language is predominant and of high quality in its stores (language for welcoming clients, language of service, quality of written and spoken French, language of public and advertising signage, language in the workplace, etc.): Latulippe
- Retailer that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the customer service offered by its employees ONLINE (emails, chat, text messages, etc.): Kaseme
- Non-Quebec company that has best adapted to Quebec’s Francophone context in all its activities and communications: Lindt (Other finalists : Moores, GUY)
- Company that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the customer service offered by its employees online: Leon’s Furniture (Other finalists : Familiprix, Videotron)
- Company that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the information or documentation available online: SQDC (Other finalists : Yves Rocher, SAQ)
- Company that made special efforts to improve the quality of French in its services and daily online communications: Shop Santé (Other finalists : Popeye’s Suppléments, Nespresso)
- Businesses whose use of the French language is predominant and of high quality in its stores (language of service, quality of written and spoken French, language of signage, language in the workplace, etc.): SAQ (Other finalists : Doyle Optométristes et Opticiens, Brunet)
- Non-Quebec company that has best adapted to Quebec’s Francophone context in all its activities and communications: MEC
- Company that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the customer service offered by its employees online: Tanguay
- Company that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the information or documentation available online: IRIS
The Molière Awards were not awarded in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Non-Quebec company that has best adapted to Quebec’s Francophone context in all its activities and communications: TELUS
- Company that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the customer service offered by its employees online: La Maison Simons
- Company that embodies excellence in the use of the French language in the information or documentation available online: Ameublements Tanguay
- Most successful company in establishing its linguistic implementation in Quebec: Canadian Tire
- Company offering the best service in French in store: Canadian Tire
- Company offering the best service in French online: Archambault
Business profiles
- Tanguay, winner of a Molière Award for its exemplary improvement of the quality of French used in its services and communications– Company Portrait: Tanguay – Tanguay ensures that all information relating to products and merchandise is accessible in French and, if necessary, translated into French. Indeed, its support services conform to the highest linguistic standards. For Tanguay, the quality of products and services must necessarily go hand-in-hand with the quality of the language in which they … Continued
- IRIS, winner of a Molière Award for its exemplary use of French in its communications– Company Portrait: Lunetterie IRIS – Rooted in Quebec culture and society, the use of the French language is a kind of second nature for IRIS. All communications, internal and external, with employees, customers and the public are conducted in French, reflecting the company’s roots in Quebec society. IRIS strives to create a comfortable and welcoming … Continued
- MEC, winner of a Molière Award for its exemplary adaptation to Quebec’s Francophone context– Company Portrait: Mountain Equipment Company – Community building is an integral part of the organizational culture of Mountain Equipment Company (MEC). This explains why the company attaches so much importance to the use and promotion of the French language. Indeed, the company spares no effort to achieve the highest linguistic standards, particularly in its internal … Continued
For questions or more information contact:
Michel Rochette
President,
CCCD – Québec
mrochette@cccd-rcc.org