While the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) confirms the opening of an investigation, the Quebec government strongly condemns what appears to be a blatant lack of respect from RONA management towards Quebecers.
“It’s a deplorable situation,” reacted the Minister of the French Language, Jean-François Roberge. This is all the more so, he continued, “as software in French was previously in place”.
SATURDAY, The newspaper revealed that the owner of the RONA, Réno-Dépôt and Lowe’s hardware stores in Canada has recently imposed the use of a digital platform, known as CommerceHub, available only in English or Spanish.
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The OQLF is investigating
All suppliers, manufacturers or manufacturers who wish to sell their products on the shelves of these stores are required to use this new platform to replace another (Syndigo), although offered in the country’s two official languages.
The president and CEO of RONA, Andrew Iacobucci – in office since June – refused to grant us an interview. Through its communications department, the company subsequently maintained that it was not required “to offer software in French of which no version exists”.
Andrew Iacobucci, President and CEO of Rona, declined our interview request.
Photo RONA
Questioned on the subject, the management of the OQLF was not able to decide on Monday on the legality of the actions taken by RONA in this matter. In the meantime, its spokesperson, Chantal Bouchard, says that the Office “is carrying out checks with RONA in order to establish the state of the situation and determine whether the company is compliant with the Charter.”
A question of respect
Beyond the existence or not of a provision of the Charter which would exceptionally allow RONA to impose on its partners in Quebec software in a language other than French, the Minister of the French Language makes it a question of respect.
“In all cases,” said Minister Jean-François Roberge, “it is a question of respect for Quebecers and their rights to be able to work and do business in French. We are confident that with all the translation systems that exist, it is possible to offer an alternative in French to RONA workers and suppliers.”
Francis Halin
Remember that RONA was purchased at the end of 2022 by the New York investment company Sycamore Partners, for 400 million US dollars. It was only a fraction of the US$2.3 billion paid by Lowe’s six years earlier, with the backing of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
Coincidence, says RONA
However, it turns out that Sycamore Partners is also a shareholder in CommerceHub (renamed Rithum in December), the platform recently imposed on the fifty suppliers of products and materials in Quebec sold in the various RONA brands.
Sycamore and Rithum did not respond to our questions. But, by email, RONA management maintained that its decision to implement CommerceHub in its systems had preceded the sale of the company to the American investment fund Sycamore Partners.
While waiting to see more clarity in this matter, the OQLF recalls that “the Charter of the French language provides that the websites of companies carrying out commercial activities in Quebec and the information they contain must be available in French”.
If, after investigation, corrections are required by RONA, the OQLF maintains that it “will support RONA in respecting its obligations.”
Rona inc, in brief
-Foundation: 1939
-Head office: Boucherville, Quebec
-Owner: Sycamore Partners, New York
-Five brands: RONA, Rona+, Réno Dépôt, Dick’s Lumber, Lowe’s
-Stores: 425 in Canada
-Employees: 22,000 employees
Source: Rona Inc.