Quebec home sale contracts, mortgage deeds must now be in French
As of Thursday, contracts for home sales in Quebec must be in French as part of language law Bill 96.
The provision applies to all Quebecers, even in circumstances where English-speaking sellers are working with English-speaking buyers.
If the contract can't be written in French to begin with, a translator must be hired.
According to notary Lorena Lopez Gonzalez, this rule means more costs and more time spent for Anglophones.
"It's [an] extra job, extra fees for the client, and extra delays. So what we used to do in two days could take two weeks," Gonzalez told CTV News.
The cost of the translation can range from $400 to $1,200, and a notary may charge additional fees to review the translation.
While many will simply choose to have the documents written in French, Gonzalez says it's important the buyers and sellers understand what they're agreeing to.
"They're not buying a pair of jeans," she said. "We are talking about contracts of hundreds of thousands of dollars."
The new rule also applies to mortgage deeds, including if you're refinancing your home.
"When you're signing a contract for one of the biggest transactions of your life, you want to be comfortable," said realtor Rebecca Sohmer.
Sohmer fears the new rule will turn off a lot of clients.
"Either you're asking two anglophone parties to sign an extremely important legal document in a language they aren't comfortable in, or you're saying 'sign it in English, but then we're going to ding you with an extra cost -- $400 to $1200, just so it can sit in the land registry in French.'"
"How that protects the French language makes no sense," Sohmer added.
Gonzalez asks the same question.
"I love the French language, but I don't think that the publication of deeds in French protects the language in any way," she said.
The Quebec notaries association says it's working to find cheaper solutions for those requiring English documents.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.