Overview of legislative agenda affecting retailers in Quebec

With the second parliamentary session, which began October 19, 2021, now well underway, and despite next week’s parliamentary recess, the National Assembly’s efforts show no sign of slowing down.

Here is a brief overview of projects impacting retailers:

• Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec
  After 3 days of debate, the principle of Bill 96 was passed unanimously. This consensus does not, however, guarantee the bypass of a clause-by-clause consideration. With that said, no date has yet been set for the beginning of the consideration of the bill by the Committee on Culture and Education.
• Bill 103, An Act to amend various legislative provisions mainly for the purpose of reducing red tape
  With 2 days of special consultation having come to an end on November 3 2021, the National Assembly last Tuesday, November 9, 2021, passed the principle of the bill aiming to reduce administrative burden. The clause-by-clause consideration is expected to begin shortly. It should be noted that this bill acts to repeal the Act Respecting Stuffing and Upholstered and Stuffed Articles, which is a direct result of RCC’s appeal for regulatory relief and harmonization.
• Bill 8, An Act to postpone the coming into force of certain provisions of the Act to transfer responsibility for the registry of lobbyists to the Lobbyists Commissioner and to implement the Charbonneau Commission recommendation on the prescription period for bringing penal proceedings
  The tabling of Bill 8 on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 essentially aims to postpone the effective date of the deployment of the new platform of registry of lobbyists, the implementation of which is currently scheduled for December 19, 2021. As such, the new bill does not set any timetable. The government has announced its intention to hold special consultations.