Big business bucks come to town
The Globe & Mail reports that a “near record” $1.7 billion in business investments “poured into Montreal” in the first half of this year, but it’s possible that the new language law will slow things down and make it harder to do business. Radio-Canada has the French version (and no paywall) of the same CP story, with a headline saying it’s despite linguistic fears, while the Gazette has a gloomy forecast about business investment because of a global slowdown.
It isn’t so much linguistic fears, I think, as resistance to the extra layer of bureaucracy and documentation that the new laws will require. Those cost money to do, and they narrow down the pool of possible hires at a time when all kinds of businesses are finding it hard to find workers.
Robert H 17:39 on 2022-07-18 Permalink
Good news for Montreal, except for that cloud behind the silver lining. All one can do now is hope that the OQLF applies bill 96’s measures with nuance and leniency, and that they provide business and workers with the tools to meet the new requirements. Not that its past actions cause much hope, but perhaps the prospect of the Office, and the CAQ by extension, being responsible for an economic debacle might inspire some restraint.
Kate 20:05 on 2022-07-19 Permalink
I wonder whether a nice donation to the CAQ would arrange things.