Savings, insurance and contracting | New legal obligation to provide contractual documents in French to your clients in Quebec  

Hi,

As of June 1, 2023, iA Financial Group - like all insurers operating in the province of Quebec - will have to comply with the new Act that amends the Charter of the French Language and designates French as the official and common language of Quebec, including the language of business.

What does this mean for you

After the signature of the contract, all subsequent communication with your client can continue in English. Please note that we will be required to provide proof of delivery of documents in French under penalty of possible fines or even cancellation of the contract.

Specifics regarding the contracting of new advisors

The contracting of new advisors living in Quebec who have chosen English as their language of correspondence is subject to the new legal obligation. From now on, the delivery of a group of documents in French – including the contract and all related documents – must be part of the contracting documents to be used.

For details on how to proceed, please consult and save this document: Checklist – Contracting in Quebec – Brokerage network.

Specifics for the savings sector

For all new savings contract sales or RRSP loan applications made through EVO Savings or RESP new issue application, the client will receive an explanatory email - in English - with links to all mandatory documents. We encourage you to always use EVO, as the process will be handled automatically and easily by the system for all clients living in Quebec and who have chosen English as their language of correspondence. The email is automatically sent and kept as a secure record.

For non-electronic sales, you must now deliver documents in French to clients before concluding the contract in English, either in person or by email. The statements added to the paper forms (see below) will help you to comply with this requirement. For links to the documents that you must provide to your clients, please consult and save the following document: Savings – Checklist for Quebec clients only. (Note: all links will be active by May 30 ).

Reminder: if you do not provide the client with the documents in French, the contract could be cancelled, and this could result in a financial loss to you and to iA Financial Group.

Specifics for the insurance sector

The legal obligation applies to all new sales of individual insurance products, whether made electronically - via EVO or Assure&go - or with a paper form. It also applies to certain contractual modifications which will result in the printing of a new contract. Due to the complexity of the necessary adjustments, the new procedure will come into force in the summer of 2023. Details will follow.

Wording added to pre-signature statements

The following statements will be added to electronic applications and paper forms (for the latter, be sure to use the latest versions dated June 2023):

1. For the client : For Quebec residents only: I confirm that I have received the French version of the contract before its signature in English. I request that the contract herein and any other related documentation be drawn up in English. 

2. For you : I confirm that I have provided my client, who lives in Quebec, with a copy of the contract in French before its signature in English.

Be ready for June 1, 2023

iA Financial Group intends to respect its obligations under the Charter of the French Language. We count on your usual cooperation to facilitate its application.

Please note that this change in legislation does not affect contracts signed before June 1, 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact your agency.

Thank you for your understanding and trust.

iA Financial Group