Overview

• French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge announced the administrative policy change on Sept. 24.
• The ban covers newly invented gender-neutral terms, including pronouns like “iel,” and prohibits inclusive or neutralized spellings in communications by public bodies.
• Officials say public institutions have a duty to use exemplary French that is easy for everyone to understand and not “distorted.”
• The province says non-binary people may continue to choose the X gender marker on certain government documents.
• Roberge said a second stage will extend the rules to communications intended for the public from the education and health-care systems.