SAINT-LEONARD – Significant changes are coming to Bill 101 for the first time in 23 years, according to Quebec’s minister of culture and communications.
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French-language descriptions, a sign of much debate in the province, will now have to accompany corporate trademarks.
That means a company with an English name will have to include a French line, in a conspicuous place, explaining what the business is.
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For example, “Supercentre Walmart” works because the words are comprehensible in French.
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Walmart was one of the corporations consulted when the provincial government developed the changes.
“We’re more interested in signage that could help the English speaking community, like in hospitals,” said Sylvia Martin Laforge, director of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN).
The regulations are still going to be tweaked over the next 45 days before going into full effect.
Businesses will have three years to comply.