Marketing rescue for Quebec contractors

Quebec's markets and the rescue cases we see

Montréal, Laval and Longueuil form the largest market, with Québec City and Lévis, Gatineau, Sherbrooke and Saguenay each a distinct market with its own competitors.

Gatineau contractors often serve Ottawa customers too, which brings two provinces' rules into one business. In Montréal, the common case is a bilingual business whose French pages were machine-translated years ago and never maintained. In the regions, it's the familiar lost listing or domain held under someone else's login.

Language: what a repaired Quebec site must get right

Bill 96 tightened the Charter of the French Language: in commercial advertising and on public signs, French now has to clearly dominate, and Quebec customers must be able to read your website and social content in French. Since 2025-06-01, non-French trademarks visible outside premises must be accompanied by French terms. The OQLF explains businesses' obligations.

In practice, a Quebec website repair plans French versions of every service page, French ad copy and a French-first Google listing description. We summarise the rule here; confirm your obligations with the OQLF.

Seasons and timing

Quebec has cold, snowy winters and a long heating season, especially away from the St. Lawrence lowlands. With electricity heating about seven in ten Quebec homes, according to Statistics Canada, heat pump and electrical trades see strong demand.

Finish recovery by early autumn for heating and electrical work. Exterior trades should use the winter for a rebuild, including French content, so the site is ready for spring.

Regulators and registries

We link and summarise only.

• The RBQ licenses contractors and oversees building safety, including electrical, gas and plumbing work. Unless an exemption applies, a contractor working for clients in Quebec needs an RBQ licence that carries the correct subclasses for the work being sold.
• The CCQ handles competency certification for construction-industry workers.
• The Registraire des entreprises holds your registered business name. Your Google listing should match it, including any French name.
• The Office de la protection du consommateur and CNESST complete the list.

Program pages, as of October 2026

Quebec's programs changed noticeably in 2026, so old program pages are a frequent accuracy problem.

• Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program offers grants for eligible heat pumps and other measures. Hydro-Québec notes that a federal heat pump rebate is coming in 2027 and says LogisVert requests are being processed normally.
• Chauffez vert, for replacing oil or propane heating, stopped accepting applications after 2026-03-31. Any page promoting it should be updated.
• Rénoclimat changed on 2026-10-01, making the pre-retrofit evaluation optional and applying new caps.

We rewrite program content in both languages, dated and linked to each administrator.

A Gatineau scenario

A [trade] company in Gatineau that also works in Ottawa needs two sets of rules in mind: Quebec's French-language requirements for Quebec customers, and Ontario's licensing rules for the Ottawa side, where they apply to its trade. A rescue plans the site so each audience gets accurate information, in the right language, without duplicate listings.

How we'd approach a Quebec rescue

1. Audit every asset, including French and English versions of listings and pages. See the rescue audit.
2. Recover through official processes, with a single listing whose name matches your registration.
3. Repair with French content planned from the start, accurate RBQ references and current program pages.
4. Restart with French-first ads and listing content, as part of a clean restart.

For a self-check before you start, see who owns your marketing, or contact us.