Inspectors from the Quebec Office of the French Language (OQLF) do not arrive at midnight to seize computer equipment in companies. This is one of the messages that OQLF has started broadcasting to reassure business people PressNew challenges to “Law 96” are being organized.
Posted at 6:00 am yesterday
OQLF held about ten virtual sessions with representatives of Quebec Inc. Since the law passed last June. In one of these 70-minute meetings, we obtained a video recording, the three advisers tried to contextualize some of the broader statements.
“The law never really allows and will never allow an office to be searched, seized or searched,” an official explained. At no time will our staff conduct such interventions. »
Calling everyone
Are you concerned about the effects of Act 96 on your business?
Yes, inspectors can now visit offices “at any time deemed reasonable” apart from normal working hours. But she said the change was only “intended to help companies that don’t want inspectors when they have customers.”
The counselor added that OQLF employees are not authorized to “handle” the devices during their visits. They can “consult, reproduce and take pictures of specific documents” used in their research.
“Sovereign” companies
The An Act respecting the official and common language of Quebec, French – often referred to as “Bill 96” – would lead to a series of very definite changes in the business world.
Among other things, all SMEs with 25 to 49 employees rather than 50 are required to undertake franchising measures and register with the OQLF. The change will increase the number of companies registered with the office from 8,800 to 30,000 by June 2025.
The march will be steep for most of them, but the OQLF seems to want to show some flexibility.
“It is important to mention that companies are completely sovereign, that is, the charter (French language), the law, specifies a certain number of objectives to be achieved, but the means to achieve them are the companies,” explained another consultant during the session.
Deadlines for meeting specific franchising goals can be set “according to your business reality, depending on the level of complexity of the resources you have.”
“Limit” bilingualism
Although there is a certain flexibility, several requirements must be strictly observed. For example: Companies are now required to “limit as much as possible” the amount of new positions that require bilingualism.
“In your job offers, when you require bilingual skills, you need to state the reasons why you need knowledge of a language other than French,” explained one counselor. That’s right now. »
She also recalled that non-French-speaking employees would have to acquire “adequate knowledge” of the language.
“In fact, if a person has very simple tasks and is able to understand their tasks in a few words in French, we don’t need to have the same knowledge of French,” she explains. On the other hand, as soon as we talk about more complex tasks, which people have to discuss among themselves during meetings, then it is French. »
Complaints and growing numbers
In Quebec, the number of complaints about non-compliance with the charter of the French language has been increasing over the years. The OQLF received 6,292 last year, nearly double the number two years ago.
The office’s president and CEO, Ginette Galarneau, declined interview requests Press. Spokesperson Chantal Bouchard, however, confirmed that the OQLF is “well prepared” for “Law 96” to take effect.
The organization’s annual budget increased from $24.1 million in 2019-2020 to $32.7 million in 2022-2023. At the same time, the number of employees should increase from 241 to 334 if the OQLF can fill thirty vacant positions.
So far 400 business representatives have registered for the information sessions conducted on Act 96, Smt.me Bouchard. She also wanted to calm things down regarding critics who see the OQLF as the “language police”.
“Effectively, the law makes little change in the Charter regarding the agency’s inspection powers,” she said by email. In fact, it has clarified and updated them to take into account the new realities and working methods of companies. »
Quebec Inc. Worried
However, the business world is far from assured. In recent months, a coalition of 150 business leaders, including those from Exfo, Coveo, Guru and New Look, signed an open letter asking Francois Legault’s government to suspend the application of some of the law’s measures.
These leaders fear recruitment problems abroad, exploding bureaucratic burdens, even a “silent exodus” from headquarters due to all the restrictions imposed by Law 96.
This is a clear law according to the government, but there are still a large number of outstanding questions and gray areas.
Pierre-Philippe Lartie, Director of the Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Council of Innovators (CCI)
Various legal challenges to Bill 96 have already been launched. A new official notice sent in mid-September requests the repeal of an article in the Act, we learnt.
In the cabinet of Simon Jolin-Barrett, the outgoing Minister of Justice and in charge of the French language (who will remain in office until Francois Legault forms a new cabinet), we recall that Law 96 “was debated according to the law. Elected representatives of the National Assembly.”
“The French language is not an obstacle to Quebec’s economy. On the contrary, it is a strength and the record level of foreign investment in Montreal since the beginning of the year is testimony to this,” added his firm.
By June 2023, Quebec will establish a new organization called Francization Quebec, which will act as a “one-stop shop” to expand French learning in businesses and for newcomers.
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