At a Canadian Tire in Notre-Dame-de-Gr\u00e2ce<\/a>, for example, the English name was removed from a streetside sign, leaving only the familiar red triangle and green maple leaf. The store also reduced the size of its name above the door and enlarged French signs for its auto parts shop.<\/p>\n The new requirements were included in Bill 96, legislation that overhauled the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101, in an effort to strengthen the use of French.<\/p>\n The Retail Council of Canada complained that stores were not given enough time to adapt, since changing signage can be a long, complicated process.\u00a0Some businesses need municipal permits or permission from landlords, and many wanted to double-check their changes with the OQLF.<\/p>\n Under the Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec government, the OQLF\u2019s annual budget doubled to $49 million, helping it handle a rise in complaints<\/a> and carry out more formal inspections and secret-shopper-style observation campaigns<\/a>.<\/p>\n Warnings, complaints and possible fines<\/p>\n In the 12 months after the signage rules took effect, the agency screened 2,050 complaints from members of the public, determining which were unfounded and which warranted investigation.<\/p>\n The OQLF also sent 2,213 warning letters to businesses for alleged violations, most of which followed complaint investigations or proactive inspections.<\/p>\n Violations can result in fines ranging from $3,000 to $30,000 per day, with amounts doubled or tripled for subsequent offences.<\/p>\n The OQLF cannot issue fines itself. Decisions on whether to pursue penalties under the charter are made by Quebec\u2019s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two businesses were referred to prosecutors over the new signage rules, the OQLF says. The referrals appear to be the most serious enforcement action taken so far under the new rules.<\/p>\n Neither case has resulted in a conviction or fine yet. If prosecutors decide to proceed, the company is served with a statement of offence and can plead guilty and pay a fine or contest and request a court hearing.<\/p>\n Who changed their signs?<\/p>\n Companies are not required to report signage changes to the OQLF. <\/p>\n The list obtained by The Gazette contains 969 records of sign changes, but the agency says its records reflect only changes it learned about through complaints, inspections or other enforcement activities.<\/p>\n Some companies are listed more than once, representing different locations or legal entities. <\/p>\n The OQLF noted that some companies may have changed signs at multiple locations even if they appear only once on the list.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is entirely possible that a major retailer also made changes in locations other than those that were the subject of OQLF interventions,\u201d a spokesperson for the language watchdog told The Gazette.<\/p>\n The 20-page list includes banks and retail chains that, combined, control thousands of storefronts in Quebec.\u00a0The records do not specify how companies changed their signs.<\/p>\n Though not exhaustive, the list offers a glimpse of the types of businesses affected and illustrates the extent to which the changes altered commercial streets across Quebec.<\/p>\n The compilation includes a large number of small, street-facing outlets whose branding relies on English, other languages or cuisine-specific terms.<\/p>\n Among them are South Asian, Chinese and Korean restaurants, Middle Eastern butcher shops, Latin American food businesses, kosher retailers and bubble tea chains.<\/p>\n Storefronts bearing English-language branding were especially affected.\u00a0<\/p>\n Twenty-six companies with \u201cbarber\u201d in their names reported changes, along with six using the word \u201ccut\u201d and 15 gyms using the word \u201cfitness.\u201d<\/p>\n The list also features restaurant chains such as A&W, Basha, Burger King, Dairy Queen, McDonald\u2019s and Tim Hortons.<\/p>\n Other major brands were also affected, including Bell, Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, Old Navy, Holiday Inn and Home Hardware.<\/p>\n The list includes Qu\u00e9becor M\u00e9dia, the company behind TVA and Le Journal de Montr\u00e9al and controlled by former Parti Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois leader Pierre Karl P\u00e9ladeau, showing that the changes reached beyond the multinational retailers that often dominate debates over Quebec\u2019s language laws.<\/p>\n Have a question about Quebec\u2019s language watchdog?<\/p>\n The Gazette is working on a report explaining how Quebec\u2019s language laws work \u2014 and how the Office qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de la langue fran\u00e7aise enforces them. What have you always wanted to know? Send your questions to ariga@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\tEditor\u2019s Picks\t<\/p>\n The Gazette\u2019s On Quebec Politics newsletter by Andy Riga breaks down key election issues, from polling shifts to legislative manoeuvring to ideas circulating in francophone commentary that don\u2019t make it into English-language coverage.<\/p>\n To sign up, visit this page<\/a> and check the box labelled \u201cOn Quebec Politics\u201d before providing your email address.<\/p>\n
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