Washing machines, coffee makers, refrigerators and other appliances sold in Quebec will need to have French embossed on dials and buttons under the government's new regulations. Quebec consumers will have fewer choices and be paying more for everything from coffee makers to washing machines if the government follows through with its revisions to the province's French language charter.
The revisions to the French language charter are associated with Bill 96, designed by the Legault government to protect French. There are alreadyfor signs could mean heavy costs to retailers. The minister in charge, Jean-François Roberge, is adamant that Quebec will go ahead with its program, despite any commercial downside.
When interviewed by CBC News, both Fallon and Melissa Tehrani, a partner with the international law firm Gowling WLG who specializes in advertising, marketing and regulatory compliance, said the same thing. And a Quebecer can't just order these products directly from the company or through Amazon, Tehrani added, because there is a provision preventing non-compliant products from being sold online in Quebec.
He is a Montreal freelancer who specializes in product development, manufacturing and marketing. Ensuring Quebec consumers have products in French is a good idea, he said, but it will come at a substantial cost. All the experts CBC News spoke to agreed that those companies that do stay in Quebec will pass costs onto the consumer. There will also be less competition, meaning prices will go up.