Receiving notice of an OQLF inspection, or anticipating one based on a consumer complaint, can be stressful for any business operating in Quebec. The Office québécois de la langue française has the authority to inspect commercial premises, review documentation, and...
There is a story Canadian marketers tell themselves about Tim Hortons and Quebec — that the chain conquered the province because it is, in some essential way, Canadian, and Quebec is part of Canada, so the affection naturally flowed. The story is wrong in the order it...
For any business operating in Quebec, selling to Quebec consumers, or employing Quebec residents, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) sets the framework that governs how French must be present in commercial activity. Understanding these requirements is...
A slogan is the shortest, most exposed, most carefully written piece of copy a brand owns. Three to seven words that the rest of the brand architecture revolves around. Which is exactly why translating one is one of the hardest jobs in the entire language services...
Receiving a complaint from the Office québécois de la langue française is a situation no business wants to face. The notice arrives without warning, identifies specific compliance issues, and typically includes a deadline to respond. For HR managers, legal counsel,...
If your business is based outside Quebec and you've been invited to respond to a Quebec RFP, a government tender, or a private procurement call, there's a good chance you'll need to submit your response in French. Not European French. Canadian French — specifically,...
If your company is hiring in Quebec — or managing employees already based there — you have a legal obligation that many English-Canadian employers are still getting wrong: job offers must be provided in French. This is not a best practice or a courtesy. Under Bill 96...
Translating commercial contracts from English to French is a strategic step for any company looking to do business in Canada—especially in Quebec. A poorly translated agreement can lead to misinterpretations, costly disputes, or even legal invalidity. Whether it’s a...