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Modernization of the Charter of the French language

The Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, adopted June 1, 2022, amended the Charter of the French Language and established French as the only official and common language of Québec. Its status was strengthened in all spheres of society.

This revision of the Charter makes the French language an affair of the State and the Language Policy of the State (PDF 2.67 Mb) (in French only) stems from it.

French is the common language

French is not only the sole official language of Québec, but is also the common language of the Québec nation. It serves as a common denominator in the public sphere and is a means of communication between Quebecers who do not have the same first language. French is also the language through which immigrants integrate into Québec society.

The exemplarity of the civil administration

General notice

Leading role of the civil administration

The civil administration is proud to serve Quebecers in French and to thus play a leading role in protecting the French language in Québec.

The Charter of the French Language establishes a duty of exemplarity of the civil administration pertaining to the use, promotion, influence, and protection of the French language. Under the general principle of exemplariness, all communications of the civil administration must be solely in French. This applies, in particular, to the language of public services.

In certain situations, the Charter allows organizations to use a language other than French.

Exceptions

General notice

Public services in a other language

If you are covered by one of the exceptions under the Charter of the French language, you are asked to specify if you wish to receive public services in a language other than French. A supporting document is not currently required if you declare on your honour that you qualify for services in a language other than French.

Persons who communicated solely in English with the civil administration prior to May 13, 2021

The civil administration may continue to provide service in English to any person with whom it communicated solely in English prior to May 13, 2021 with regard to a matter concerning that person.

Persons declared eligible to receive instruction in English

The bodies of the civil administration may communicate in English with persons declared eligible to receive instruction in English and who have been issued a Certificate of eligibility for instruction in English by the Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec.

However, this exception does not apply to children of foreign nationals who are staying in Québec on a temporary basis (foreign students and temporary foreign workers) and who have received authorization to receive instruction in English (document entitled Eligibility for instruction in English – Temporary authorization).

The Indigenous peoples

The bodies of the civil administration may use a language other than French to communicate with Indigenous persons (First Nations and Inuit persons).

Immigrants

The bodies of the civil administration may use a language other than French to provide services to welcome immigrants into Québec society. This exception applies for the first six months following their arrival in Québec.

Services provided outside Québec

The bodies of the civil administration may provide services to persons in another language in addition to French if these services are provided outside Québec.

Legal persons and enterprises

There are exceptions for certain legal persons and enterprises with which the civil administration may communicate in another language in addition to French.

Legal persons and enterprises established outside Québec

The bodies of the civil administration may communicate in writing in another language in addition to French when addressing a legal person or an enterprise that has no head office or establishment in Québec.

Legal persons and enterprises established in Québec with a head office or establishment outside Québec

The bodies of the civil administration may use another language in addition to French to communicate with a legal person or an enterprise established in Québec when the communication is addressed solely to the head office or establishment of that legal person or enterprise and that head office or establishment is located outside Québec.

Legal persons that are exempt from the application of the Charter under section 95 – James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and Northeastern Québec Agreement

The bodies of the civil administration may use another language in addition to French to communicate with legal persons that are exempt from the application of the Charter under section 95, which makes reference to the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and the Northeastern Québec Agreement.

Certain legal persons and enterprises that provide services on a territory or to a person referred to in section 97 of the Charter

The bodies of the civil administration may use another language in addition to French if the communication is addressed to the establishment of a legal person or an enterprise formed and administered exclusively for the purpose of providing services on a reserve, on a settlement or on lands referred to in section 97 of the Charter or to a person referred to in that section.

Sole proprietorships

The bodies of the civil administration may use another language in addition to French when addressing a sole proprietorship run by a natural person with whom the civil administration has the option to communicate in another language (see the exceptions under Receiving services in another language).

Other situations referred to in sunset clauses (in effect until June 1, 2025)

The bodies of the civil administration may use another language in addition to French to communicate with a legal person or an enterprise established in Québec when that is necessary to avoid compromising their mission and after making all reasonable efforts to communicate solely in French.

Bodies of the civil administration subject to the Charter

To determine whether a body is obliged to serve the public in French, please consult the Liste des organismes de l’Administration (PDF 626 Kb) (in French only).

Everyone can learn French through Francisation Québec

Francisation Québec is the sole government access point to learn French for adults living in Québec, those planning to settle there, and workers in businesses.
To obtain additional information on these services, please visit:

Last update: October 4, 2023

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