Québec: businesses with 5 to 24 employees must report French-language capacity to the enterprise register
From 1 June 2025, enterprises registered in Québec with 5 to 24 employees must state in their annual or current updating declaration to the Registraire des entreprises the proportion of employees unable to communicate in French at work. The duty, added by Bill 96 to the Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises, previously applied to businesses with 5 to 49 employees. The information is public.
Bill 96 (An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec) amended the Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises. From 1 June 2023 the disclosure applied to enterprises with 5 to 49 employees.
What changed on 1 June 2025
- The disclosure now applies to registered enterprises with 5 to 24 employees. Businesses with 50 or more employees follow the separate francization process with the Office québécois de la langue française.
- It is made in the annual updating declaration or a current updating declaration, and on registration or the initial declaration for new entities.
- The Registraire publishes the information, and the Office can use it to identify businesses needing French-language support.
Reminders
Every registered enterprise must file an annual updating declaration, even with no changes. Failing to file for two consecutive years can lead to cancellation of registration and, for a corporation, dissolution.
Who is affected
Québec-registered corporations, partnerships and foreign entities with staff in Québec, and those who file their declarations.