Timeline of Quebec’s sign laws over the years

MONTREAL – The following is a timeline of important events in the development of Quebec’s sign laws.

1977 – Bill 101, also known as the French Language Charter, is passed by a margin of 54-32 in Quebec’s legislature. It includes provisions that require all commercial signs in Quebec to be in French only.

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1981 – Deadline for all signs in the province to comply with Bill 101’s French-only requirement.

1982 – Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is passed.

1988 – Supreme Court of Canada decision strikes down the French-only provisions of the language charter. Quebec government invokes the notwithstanding clause.

1993 – Bill 86 is passed by Quebec’s Liberal government to incorporate changes to Bill 101 mandated by the 1988 Supreme Court decision. The updated bill allows languages other than French to be included on commercial signs, but requires French to be “markedly predominant.”