Table of contents

Title I |Title II | Title III | Title IV | Title V | Title VI | Schedule

51. Every inscription on a product, on its container or on its wrapping, or on a document or object supplied with it, including the directions for use and the warranty certificates, must be drafted in French. This rule applies also to menus and wine lists.

The French inscription may be accompanied with a translation or translations, but no inscription in another language may be given greater prominence than that in French.

1977, c. 5, s. 51; 1997, c. 24, s. 24.

52. Catalogues, brochures, folders, commercial directories and any similar publications must be drawn up in French.

1977, c. 5, s. 52; 1983, c. 56, s. 11; 1993, c. 40, s. 15.

52.1. All computer software, including game software and operating systems, whether installed or uninstalled, must be available in French unless no French version exists.

Software can also be available in languages other than French, provides that the French version can be obtained on terms, except price where it reflects higher production costs, that are no less favourable and that it has technical characteristics that are at least equivalent.

1997, c. 24, s. 3

53. Repealed.

1997, c. 24, s. 4

54. Toys or games, except those referred to in section 52.1, which require the use of a non-French vocabulary for their operation are prohibited on the Québec market, unless a French version of the toy or game is available on the Québec market on no less favourable terms.

1977, c. 5, s. 54; 1993, c. 40, s. 17; 1997, c. 24, s. 4

54.1. The Government may, by regulation and on the conditions it fixes, provide for exceptions to the application of sections 51 to 54.

1997, c. 24, s. 6

55. Contracts pre-determined by one party, contracts containing printed standard clauses, and the related documents, must be drawn up in French. They may be drawn up in another language as well at the express wish of the parties.

1977, c. 5, s. 55.

56. If the documents referred to in section 51 are required by any act, order in council or government regulation, they may be excepted from the rule enunciated in that section, provided that the languages in which they are drafted are the subject of a federal-provincial, interprovincial or international agreement.

1977, c. 5, s. 56.

57. Application forms for employment, order forms, invoices, receipts and quittances shall be drawn up in French.

1977, c. 5, s. 57.

58. Public signs and posters and commercial advertising must be in French.

They may also be both in French and in another language provided that French is markedly predominant.

However, the Government may determine , by regulation, the places, cases, conditions or circumstances where public signs and posters and commercial advertising must be in French only, where French need not be predominant or where such signs, posters and advertising may be in another language only.

1977, c. 5, s. 58; 1983, c. 56, s. 12; 1988, c. 54, s. 1; 1993, c. 40, s. 18.

58.1 - 58.2. Replaced .

1993, c. 40, s. 18.

59. Section 58 does not apply to advertising carried in news media that publish in a language other than French, or to messages of a religious, political, ideological or humanitarian nature if not for a profit motive.

1977, c. 5, s. 59; 1988, c. 54, s. 2; 1993, c. 40, s. 19.

60. Repealed .

1988, c. 54, s. 3.

61 - 62. Repealed .

1993, c. 40, s. 20.

63. Firms names must be in French.

1977, c. 5, s. 63.

64. To obtain juridical personality, it is necessary to have a firm name in French.

1977, c. 5, s. 64.

65. Every firm name that is not in French must be changed before 31 December 1980, unless the act under which the enterprise is incorporated does not allow it.

1977, c. 5, s. 65; 1999, c. 40, s. 45.

66. Sections 63, 64 and 65 also apply to firm names entered by way of declaration in the register instituted in accordance with the Act respecting the legal publicity of sole proprietorships, partnerships and legal persons (chapter P-45).

1977, c. 5, s. 66; 1993, c. 48, s. 197.

67. Family names, place names, expressions formed by the artificial combination of letters, syllables or figures, and expressions taken from other languages may appear in firm names to specify them, in accordance with the other Acts and with the regulations of the Government.

1977, c. 5, s. 67; 1993, c. 40, s. 21.

68. A firm name may be accompanied with a version in a language other than French provided that, when it is used, the French version of the firm name appears at least as prominently.

However, in public signs and posters and commercial advertising, the use of a version of a firm name in a language other than French is permitted to the extent that the other language may be used in such signs and posters or in such advertising pursuant to section 58 and the regulations enacted under that section.

In addition, in texts or documents drafted only in a language other than French, a firm name may appear in the other language only.

1977, c. 5, s. 68; 1983, c. 56, s. 14; 1988, c. 54, s. 6; 1993, c. 40, s. 22.

69. Repealed.

1988, c. 54, s. 7.

70. Health services and social services the firm names of which, adopted before 26 August 1977, are in a language other than French may continue to use such names provided they add a French version.

1977, c. 5, s. 70.

71. A non-profit organization devoted exclusively to the cultural development or to the defense of the peculiar interests of a particular ethnic group may adopt a firm name in the language of the group, provided that it adds a French version.

1977, c. 5, s. 71.

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