Quebec doesn't rule out tighter language law to force retailers to use French
Court of Appeal ruled French Language Charter not enough to force companies to adopt French names
Premier Philippe Couillard is not excluding the possibility of tightening Quebec's language law to force major retailers to include French wording in their commercial trademark English names.
- Quebec courts examine the use of English on signs and websites
- Big retailers face new language rules in Quebec
The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled earlier this week the French Language Charter does not allow the province's language watchdog to force companies such as Best Buy, Old Navy and Curves to add a French component to their name.
Couillard's government appealed an April 2014 lower-court ruling that was in favour of the companies.
The opposition Parti Québécois urged the premier in the National Assembly today to amend Bill 101 immediately to fix the loopholes.
Couillard replied such a scenario has not been excluded but that he wants to analyze the appeals court judgment before deciding on a course of action.
Quebec Culture Minister Hélène David agreed it's too soon to act.
"We are waiting for the written report of the court and we will look at all the avenues possible to solve the problem," David said.
Several multinationals originally took the province to court after they were told by the language watchdog to change their names or risk running afoul of the rules governing the language of business in the province.
With files from CBC