{"id":1860,"date":"2025-05-27T12:55:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T16:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/steinmonast.ca\/actualites\/companies-with-25-to-49-employees-registered-with-the-office-quebecoise-de-la-langue-francaise\/"},"modified":"2025-05-27T11:15:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T15:15:56","slug":"companies-with-25-to-49-employees-registered-with-the-office-quebecoise-de-la-langue-francaise","status":"publish","type":"blog_post","link":"https:\/\/steinmonast.ca\/en\/news\/companies-with-25-to-49-employees-registered-with-the-office-quebecoise-de-la-langue-francaise\/","title":{"rendered":"Companies with 25 to 49 employees: registered with the Office qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise de la langue fran\u00e7aise?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As of June 1, 2025<\/strong>, companies employing 25 or more individuals in Quebec<\/strong> for a period of six months will be required to register with the Office qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de la langue fran\u00e7aise<\/a> (OQLF) in order to initiate a francization process.<\/p>\n

Legislative context<\/h6>\n

On June 1, 2022, the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Qu\u00e9bec (Bill 96<\/a>) received assent. Subsection 83(1) of this Act amends section 139 of the Charter of the French Language<\/a> by lowering to 25 the number of employees a company must have to be required to register with the OQLF. This provision will come into force on June 1, 2025.<\/p>\n

What is the francization process for companies with 25 or more employees?<\/h2>\n

First step<\/strong>: The company must register with the OQLF<\/a> by submitting the appropriate form. Once the form has been received and reviewed, the OQLF will issue a registration certificate<\/strong>1<\/sup> to the company.<\/p>\n

Second step<\/strong>: Within three months<\/strong> of the date of issue of the registration certificate, the company must conduct an analysis of its linguistic situation<\/a> and submit it to the OQLF 2<\/sup>. This analysis must also be completed by using a specific form.<\/p>\n

Third step<\/strong>: If the OQLF assesses that the use of French is widespread at all levels of the company, it will issue a certificate of francization<\/strong>, without requiring the company to implement a francization program3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

However, if the OQLF assesses that the use of French is not generalized at all levels of the company, it notifies the company that it must adopt a francization program <\/strong>and submit it within three months<\/strong> of the date of receipt of such notice4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

After approving the francization program, the OQLF issues an attestation of implementation of the francization program5<\/sup>, requiring the company to comply with the elements and steps set out in its program, and to submit implementation reports to the OQLF every twelve months<\/strong>6<\/sup>. These reports, as well as the francization program itself, must be communicated to the company\u2019s employees7<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

When the company has completed the implementation of its francization program and the OQLF assesses that the use of French is widespread at all levels of the company, it issues a francization certificate8<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Fourth step<\/strong>: Every three years, a company holding a francization certificate must submit a report to the OQLF on the evolution of the French usage within the company9<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n

What are the consequences if a company fails to comply with its francization obligations?<\/h2>\n

When the OQLF identifies a breach of the provisions of the Charter of the French Language or one of its regulations, it can order the offender to comply10<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Failure to comply with such an order constitutes an offence, for which an individual may be subject to a fine from $700 to $7,000, and, in other cases, a fine ranging from $3,000 to $30,00011<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Francization: a requirement for obtaining a grant or public contract<\/h3>\n

Section 152.1 of the Charter of the French Language provides, subject to certain exceptions, that the Administration12<\/sup> cannot enter into a contract with, or grant a subsidy to, a company<\/strong> when that company:<\/p>\n