It's official: Companies like Canadian Tire, Best Buy, and Second Cup must now add French descriptions to their storefronts, covering two-thirds of the text space.
Despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline, as of Sunday, June 1,2025, several French-language requirements related to commercial signage and packaging came into force under Law 14 (formerly Bill 96).
With French required to be the dominant language on store signs and stricter guidelines for product packaging, the key changes include any business name featuring a specific term (such as a store name) in a language other than French and visible from outside must now be accompanied by French wording—such as a generic term, a description, or a slogan—to ensure the clear predominance of French.
This also applies to recognized trademarks, whether fully or partially in another language, if they appear in signage visible from outside a premises.
"Visible from outside" includes displays seen from the exterior of a building or structure, within a shopping mall, or on terminals and standalone signage like pylons.
What to know about Quebec’s new language rules?
Under the new rules, French must occupy twice the space of other languages on storefronts, meaning businesses with English names must add prominent French descriptions.
While trademarks can remain in other languages, new rules require generic terms within them—like "lavender and shea butter"—to be translated into French.
Critics warn this could limit product availability if global suppliers don't adapt, pushing customers to online retailers.
Quebec's language requirement, previously for businesses with 50+ employees, now applies to those with 25–49 staff, who must register with the language office—even if no changes are ultimately needed.
Businesses that violate the new rules face fines from $3,000 to $30,000 per day, rising to $90,000 for repeat offences—though officials say penalties may be delayed if efforts to comply are underway.
What is Bill 96 Quebec 2025?
Bill 96, which amends Quebec's Charter of the French Language, introduces changes that impact businesses in Quebec, particularly regarding language use in commerce and business.
Specifically, on June 1, 2025, a key element of Bill 96 regarding trademarks comes into effect, requiring translation of descriptive or generic terms within trademarks into French.
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