Montreal Realtor Questions Language Rules After OQLF Letter Over English Social Media Posts
A Montreal real estate agent with nearly three decades of experience says he was surprised to receive a complaint letter from the Office québécois de la langue française regarding the language used in his social media posts. Mario Conte, who is trilingual, said the agency contacted him because some of his Instagram posts were written only in English. He noted that his printed materials, including business cards and calendars, are in French and his website is available in both French and English, but he did not expect his social media content to draw the attention of the language watchdog. 
The OQLF says businesses and professionals operating in Quebec must comply with the Charter of the French Language, including when posting content on social media, meaning French must be at least as accessible and equivalent to other languages used. A spokesperson explained that posts can appear in other languages as long as the French version is equally accessible. However, constitutional lawyer Julius Grey raised concerns about regulating language on social media, suggesting it raises questions about freedom of expression and may harm Quebec’s reputation.
