Quebec rolls out new French language laws. What does that mean for tourists?

Lilly St. Angelo, Burlington Free Press
·3 min read
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The classic "bonjour, hi" greeting in Montreal is known by many Vermonters who venture up to the multi-lingual city.

A new language bill that recently went into effect in Quebec aims to strengthen the use of the French language in the Canadian province and decrease use of other languages, including English. It will require government workers, including those in public services, to use only French in all communication with some exceptions. It also creates more requirements for French language use in private businesses and English-language colleges.

While the bill bars most residents from getting government services in languages other than French, Vermonters and other American tourists will not be affected.

The view from Mont Royal on a spring day in May 2022. The stricter language laws rolled out June 1, 2023 around the use of other languages than French do not affect tourists visiting Montreal.
The view from Mont Royal on a spring day in May 2022. The stricter language laws rolled out June 1, 2023 around the use of other languages than French do not affect tourists visiting Montreal.

What Bill 96 does

The bill that went into effect June 1, known commonly as Bill 96, is an amendment to the Charter of the French Language, which was created in 1977 and protects the rights of Quebecers to speak French. The new requirements "establishes a duty of exemplarity" in the civil administration to protect and preserve French in Quebec, according to the province's official website.

In short, the bill reinforces laws already on the books to make French the official language of Quebec. Here are the largest implications:

  • All government agencies, departments and committees must speak and write only in French while communicating externally and internally in their organizations.

    • Exceptions: Quebec civil administration workers can communicate in a language other than French when talking to people who are declared eligible to receive instruction in English, people who communicated with civil services only in English prior to May 13, 2021, indigenous people, newly arrived immigrants (arrived within six months), and people who live outside Quebec.

  • The number of students at English-language colleges will now be capped in Quebec and all students will have to take three 45-hour courses in French. Everyone must pass a French language exam in order to graduate except those who grew up going to English-language schools in Canada or had a parent or sibling who did.

  • Businesses with 25 employees or more must establish that their common language is French and have a certificate to prove it. Previously, only businesses with 50 employees or more had to do this. If a business is suspected of not speaking French, the government can search for evidence against them.

  • Immigrants may receive government services in another language for up to six months after they arrive in Quebec. After six months, they will only receive services in French.

Why the bill does not affect tourists

While tourists are not included on the official list of five exceptions, Montreal and Quebec officials said the new law does not apply when government workers are communicating with tourists. The law also excludes the required use of French when health or public safety are concerned.

"Montreal is a bilingual city, and emergency operators are generally able to communicate in both languages to ensure effective emergency response," Aurélie de Blois, spokesperson for Tourisme Montréal, wrote in an email. "So when a tourist in Montreal calls 911 for assistance, they can expect to be able to communicate in English."

Media relations for Quebec's Minister of the French Language confirmed that tourists can access emergency services in English throughout the province.

Bill 96 also does not effect how private businesses speak to clients, de Blois said, therefore tourists will effectively not see a difference when visiting Quebec.

"While the new law may lead to adjustments in the way certain government services are provided in English, it is unlikely to have a major impact on English-speaking tourists to Montreal," de Blois said. "The city remains open and welcoming to visitors of different languages, and tourism services will continue to meet the needs of all travelers, whatever their language preference."

Contact Urban Change Reporter Lilly St. Angelo at lstangelo@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lilly_st_ang.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: What Quebec's new French language law mean for Vermont tourists