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“When coming up with measures that will considerably affect the economy and people’s daily lives, we would like the government to at least rely on real data that isn’t perception but the reality on the ground,” Michel Rochette, the president of the council’s Quebec branch, said on Wednesday.
Among other findings, the recent OQLF survey suggests the proportion of those using only French in Quebec’s public places has remained stable at 79 per cent and that the use of French in Montreal is 11 points below the provincial average.
The council also pointed to how the OQLF report shows the use of French in Quebec’s commercial sector remains stable at 85 per cent while its use in the workplace and public spaces is on the rise.
“We are aware there will always be a risk and that French will always need to be preserved. We understand that and have always agreed with it,” Rochette said. “The question is to which point are measures necessary and do they sometimes go too far?”
The council represents roughly 17,000 retailers in Quebec. Top among its concerns are proposed Quebec regulations that would require more French markings on consumer products.
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Under existing law, permanent markings such as those that are engraved, embossed or welded are permitted to be in a language other than French unless they are related to product safety.
But draft regulations released in January would end that exception and require French markings if they’re “necessary for the use of the product.” At least one home appliance manufacturer association has already said about 90 per cent of home appliance models in the Quebec market would not comply with the new rules.
Rochette used the example of on and off labels on appliances such as washing and drying machines to question whether the changes will truly have the desired affect of protecting the language.
“Is that really necessary?” he asked, again emphasizing that the OQLF’s numbers suggest the decline cited by the government isn’t as severe as often mentioned.
“Sometimes the discourse can lead to measures, but inaccurate findings rarely lead to the best solutions,” he added. “I think we need to always be sure we have the right findings to measure the extent of the measures being put forward.”
Rochette said his main concerns lay with the retailers who have decided to do business in Quebec and what effect it will have on their success.
If they can no longer sell certain appliances, for instance, he questioned whether consumers will simply look for other options online from businesses that don’t need to meet the new requirements.
“We want to be sure that Quebec merchants won’t lose out, that Quebec consumers won’t lose out,” Rochette said. “And that, in the end, the French language won’t lose out by sometimes going too far with measures that aren’t applicable.”
With reporting from The Canadian Press.
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