Application of the Charter of the French language
The Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”), like all departments and agencies of the Government of Québec, is subject to the Charter of the French language and its regulations. The AMF must therefore, in an exemplary manner, use the French language, promote its quality, ensure its influence in Québec and protect it.
Reform of the Charter of the French language
The revised Charter of the French language 
This link will open in a new window (the “Charter”), which the Politique linguistique de l’État This link will open in a new window is based on, incorporates amendments intended to underscore the status of French as the sole official and common language of Québec. The new language rules came into effect on June 1, 2023.
The AMF is taking the needed steps to ensure that it fulfills is obligations under this reform.
These include:
- adopting a language directive specifying the nature of the situations in which it intends to use a language other than French;
- using French exclusively in its activities, other than in the exceptional cases provided for in the Charter and its regulations.
Exceptions
Under the Charter, there are specific cases where, on certain conditions, the AMF may opt to use a language other than French to communicate with you.
Under the new rules, we may communicate with you solely in English, orally and in writing, if:
- You request service in English and do not appear to understand French;
AND
- The AMF was already communicating with you in English before May 13, 2021, or
- You have been declared eligible to receive instruction in English in QuébecYou are eligible to receive instruction in English under a certificate of eligibility issued to you by a person designated by the Minister of Education., or
- You reside outside Canada.
Under the new rules, we may communicate with you in writing in English, in addition to French, and solely in English in oral communications, if:
- You request service in English and do not appear to understand French;
AND
- You are an Indigenous person, or
- You are an immigrant who arrived in Québec within the past six months, or
- You reside outside Québec in a Canadian province, or
- You represent a legal person, partnership, enterprise or body that is located outside Québec.
If you do not meet the above criteria, then, depending on your situation:
- In future, you may receive all correspondence in French only;
- In future, you may receive certain communications both in French and English after receiving them only in English in the past;
- In future, certain pages on our website may be accessible in French only;
- In future, certain documents on our website may be made available in English on request only;
- In future, our staff may address you in French only or ask you if you are covered by an exception when you call us or go to the AMF’s offices.
Other measures will need to be gradually implemented to enable our organization to comply with all the new provisions of the Charter that are applicable to it.
Language requirements for certain positions
Following the passage of Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec (Law 14), the AMF must publish the number of positions within its organization for which it requires knowledge or a specific level of knowledge of a language other than the official language and those for which such knowledge or such level of knowledge is desirable. On April 1, 2025, for 956 budgeted positions, the AMF had 652 positions for which knowledge or a level of knowledge of a language other than French is required and 143 positions for which knowledge or a level of knowledge of a language other than French is desirable.
The AMF is the body mandated to regulate Québec’s financial markets and assist consumers of financial products and services. It is a body that works in French, and oral and written communications within the organization are in French. However, in the areas of corporate finance, distribution of financial products and services, and insurance, the various tasks performed by staff require knowledge of a language other than French—specifically, English. Their tasks involve frequent, even daily, interactions with businesses outside Québec and with regulators in the rest of the country and at the international level. Such tasks fall within the scope of exceptions under the Charter that authorize the AMF to use at least one other language besides the official language.
Complaints and comments
If you believe that the AMF is not complying with its obligations under the Charter, please e-mail your complaint to [email protected].