Quebec's Bill 96: Key Changes in 2025 and How Companies Can Stay Compliant
Is your business compliant with Bill 96 (Votre entreprise est-elle conforme) ? On June 1, 2025, the final provisions of the French language law in Quebec took effect. Officially titled “An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec,” Bill 96 was passed in 2022 to strengthen the use of French in everyday business. The newest measures include stricter enforcement, updated documentation requirements, and operational changes. Understanding and adapting to these changes is essential for any organization with 25 or more employees to stay compliant and continue doing business in Canada’s largest province.
A Review of Laws Protecting French in Quebec
Quebec’s commitment to protecting the French language dates back to Bill 101 in 1977. This landmark legislation established French as the official language of Quebec, mandating its use in education, commerce, and public administration. In recent years, concerns about declining French usage in workplaces and daily life prompted stronger measures, leading to the passage of Bill 96 in 2022. This update reinforces and expands the principles of Bill 101 to ensure that French remains the language of work, service, and communication in Quebec.
Incremental Implementation: Key Milestones
Bill 96’s rollout followed a phased approach beginning in June 2022, when the bill received royal assent, immediately expanding the role of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) and strengthening language requirements in government communications.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, incremental deadlines required businesses to adjust documentation, signage, and employment practices to meet French language requirements. Notably, new rules for French employment contracts and francization obligations for small and medium-sized businesses were introduced.
These milestones set the stage for 2025, when major provisions took effect, including mandatory OQLF registration for businesses with 25 or more employees and stricter enforcement of French language use.
Bill 96 Changes Effective June 1, 2025
With the final phase of Bill 96 now in effect, here’s what businesses need to know for 2025:
Mandatory OQLF Registration: Businesses with 25 or more employees in Quebec must now register with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
Stricter Enforcement: The OQLF has expanded authority to investigate complaints, conduct inspections, and issue fines, increasing the need for proactive compliance.
Expanded Francization Requirements: Businesses subject to francization must integrate French more deeply into daily operations, including internal processes and communications.
Enhanced French Visibility Online and in Advertising: Websites, product labels, packaging, and advertisements targeting Quebec must prioritize French. Other languages can still appear but cannot overshadow French.
Stricter Rules for Trademarks: Trademarks displayed on products are now subject to tighter French-language requirements, prompting a review of product packaging and displays.
Public Signage Requirements: Public signs and posters must prioritize French or ensure equal visibility with other languages in stores, offices, and customer-facing environments.
Employee and Customer Communications: French must be available across all employee communications, training materials, employment documents, and software interfaces. Customer contracts, warranties, and after-sales communications must also be provided in French, ensuring customers can fully interact in French throughout their experience.
Learn more about Bill 96 and how TransPerfect can help your company stay compliant.
How Companies Can Ensure Bill 96 Compliance
Here are steps that Quebec businesses with 25 or more employees can take to ensure full compliance and minimize risk:
Conduct a language audit: Review workplace communications, customer documents, contracts, digital assets, signage, and training materials to identify areas where French is missing or insufficiently prioritized.
Align documentation and signage: Update employment contracts, customer agreements, and in-store or online signage to meet the new visibility and accessibility standards for French.
Provide employee training: Educate staff about language obligations to ensure they understand their roles in upholding compliance during customer interactions and internal communication.
Consult language or legal experts: They can help identify hidden risks, interpret complex provisions of Bill 96, and review contracts, website content, and customer interactions for compliance.
Develop clear internal policies: Establish official company guidelines for language use to maintain consistency and reduce the risk of errors that could lead to penalties.
Implement ongoing monitoring: Regularly audit your business’s language practices to stay aligned with evolving regulations, proactively address issues, and demonstrate commitment to compliance.
Simplify Your Bill 96 Compliance Journey
Quebec’s Bill 96 is now fully in effect. Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions that put your market presence at risk. TransPerfect can simplify your compliance journey by providing expert translation, localization, audits, and employee training to ensure your documentation, signage, and communications fully align with Bill 96 requirements.
Want to ensure your business is compliant? Explore our services to help keep your operations running smoothly in Quebec.