The French Language in Quebec: What You Need to Know

In 2024–2025, more than 10,000 complaints were filed with Quebec’s office of the French language, known as the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). Nearly half of them dealt with the right to be served in French, especially in Montreal. French is the official language of Quebec, and many everyday rights are tied to this legal status. Here’s what this means for consumers, professionals, employees, and people dealing with government services.

Service in businesses 

Businesses in Quebec – like restaurants, bars, stores and online services – must be able to serve and answer consumers, like clients and customers, in French. This is guaranteed under the Charter of the French language.  

For example, if a customer enters a bar in Montreal and tries to order in French, but the staff only speaks English, this could be a situation that goes against the Charter of the French language.  

In such a case, the customer can file a complaint with Quebec’s office of the French language, called the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) in French. The complaint process is simple and can be done online through the OQLF’s website (French only). The OQLF is the government body responsible for ensuring that the Charter of the French language is respected. 

Professional services 

In Quebec, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, notaries and other regulated professionals are also required to provide their services in French. The same goes for the professional orders. 

If someone feels they were denied proper services in French, for example, by a doctor, they can file a complaint with the relevant professional order, like Quebec’s professional order for doctors, the Collège des Médecins du Québec. 

Depending how serious the situation is, the professional order could impose measures ranging from taking refresher French courses or obtaining a certificate issued by Quebec’s office of the French language to a disciplinary reprimand for professional misconduct. 

Government services 

Provincial and municipal government bodies must provide services in French as well. 

For example, if someone goes to city hall for a service and the staff is unable to communicate in French, this may violate their language rights. Provincial and municipal government bodies must also respect the Charter of the French language, which means that they must be able to serve the public in French.  

If someone’s request for service in French is ignored or poorly handled, they can raise the issue with the government body itself. If the problem isn’t resolved, they can file a complaint, for example, with the Québec Ombudsman, or the service quality and complaints commissioner for a health and social services institution. 

In any situation, the person can also file a complaint directly with Quebec’s office of the French language, called the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) in French. The complaint process is simple and can be done online through the OQLF’s website (French only).  

The right to work in French 

In Quebec, workers have the right to work in French. Employers cannot fire someone simply for not speaking English or another language.  

For example, if your employer communicates only in English, including in communications meant for all personnel, workers’ language rights aren’t being respected.  

In cases like this, anyone can file a complaint with Quebec’s office of the French language, called the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) in French. The complaint process is simple and can be done online through the OQLF’s website (French only).  

The OQLF may then inspect the workplace and require the employer to respect the law by a certain deadline. 

If you’ve been fired, discriminated against or harassed at work for not knowing a language other than French, you can also file a complaint with Quebec’s labour board, the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).