Quebec stiffens language rules for commercial business signage

by carly_mchugh | 20 January 2024 2:59 pm

The Quebec government plans to tighten its requirements for the use of French on commercial business signage, in an effort to preserve the province’s official language.

Under the new rules, which were published in the Official Gazette on Jan. 10, public signs and posters featuring trademarks and company names that are “both in French and in another language” must be designed so the French is “markedly predominant” and has “a much greater visual impact than the text in the other language.”

Further, while trademarks and logos can appear in English, the signage must include French text “at least twice as large” with equivalent “legibility and permanent visibility.”

Signage must be updated to comply with these requirements by June 1, 2025.

It is still too early to determine how these changes will affect how sign companies advise their clients on commercial projects. However, it is a topic the industry continues to closely monitor.

Lee Murphy, director of business development for Access Signs, and president of the board of directors for the Association Quebecoise de l’Industrie de l’Enseigne (AQIE), says lines of communication are currently open with the Office quebecois de la langue francaise (OQLF) for clarification on how best to move forward.

“Their representative has advised us this is something currently evolving, as you can imagine the cost implications to clients,” he says. “Many clients are putting projects on hold to ensure they don’t have to proceed a second time.”

Additional factors to consider, adds Murphy, are the cost implications of repairing facades, and the lack of discussion with cities to allow for any variances to the maximum size restrictions, to account for the addition of French. At present, these and many other details still need to be solidified, all of which have been mentioned to the OQLF.

“AQIE is currently in discussions with retail associations to leverage how we can best help, advise, and collaborate to minimize the impact to clients,” says Murphy. “As proud stewards of our industry, we want to help clients navigate the situation, rather than simply selling signs. We’re doing so currently at an association level and keeping members and clients up to date with how the rules evolve.”

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/quebec-stiffens-language-rules-for-commercial-business-signage/

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