Moving in Quebec: a practical compliance checklist
A moving, transport or towing business juggles customer messages, home addresses, prices, insurance and permits. This checklist turns the rules that Remy, the Orvel agent, applies into concrete actions. It is general information, not legal advice: have each point validated with the relevant body or your advisor.
Before you start: what this list is and is not
Each rule below comes from official sources or recognized bodies, listed at the end of the guide. Several carry the note "to be validated": this is deliberate, because your situation (type of vehicles, contract, insurance policy) can change the answer.
Remy is an assistant that prepares and follows up. It gives no legal opinion and states none to your customers. Every decision about what is allowed, covered or required remains yours, with the help of the relevant bodies and your advisors.
1. Commercial messages: consent, identification, unsubscribe
Commercial electronic messages require the recipient's consent, identification of the sender and a way to unsubscribe. This is Canada's anti-spam legislation (CASL, or LCAP in French), described by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission). Seasonal reminders and campaigns, such as the reminder before July 1 or a storage space renewal, fall in this category.
Confirmations and reminders for a service the customer requested follow that request. In Orvel, seasonal reminders and campaigns only go to consenting customers, with an unsubscribe link.
- Did the customer consent before a campaign is sent?
- Does every message identify your business and give its contact details?
- Is the unsubscribe link present in every commercial message?
2. Personal information: Law 25
Home addresses, schedules, access instructions and keys are personal information protected by Quebec's Law 25, whose application to businesses is explained by the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI), the province's access-to-information and privacy authority. A move concentrates exactly this information: where the person lives, when they will be away, how to get in.
In Orvel, address fields are marked sensitive, access is limited to the people who need it, and deletion is possible on request.
- Who on your team truly needs to see addresses and keys?
- Can you delete a customer file on request?
- Are access instructions kept only as long as needed?
3. Price, date, addresses and inclusions: in writing before moving day
The price, the date, the addresses and what is included must be agreed clearly in writing before moving day, and the agreed price must not change without the customer's consent. The note "to be validated by your legal advisor" applies; the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), Quebec's consumer protection office, is the reference to consult.
In Orvel, the quote is written and structured, the "Date confirmed" stage requires written confirmation, and Remy gives no firm price without your estimate.
- Does the quote specify addresses, date, inclusions, conditions and deposit?
- Did the customer receive the written confirmation?
- Does every price change have the customer's agreement?
4. Insurance and coverage limits
The company's insurance coverage and its limits, for example a limit per kilogram transported, must be explained to the customer. The exact wording comes from your policy and contract, and must be validated. CAA-Quebec offers advice on a successful move.
In Orvel, a "declared value" field exists. Remy only reuses the text you provide and never states what your insurance covers or not; for any coverage or damage question, it hands over to your team.
5. Transport for others: Commission des transports du Québec
Depending on the vehicles used (weight, transport for others), a registration or permit from the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ), the province's transport commission, may be required. This must be confirmed for your fleet, directly with the CTQ.
Keep the registration number and renewal dates in your company notes. Remy states nothing on this subject to customers.
6. Towing and roadside assistance
Towing and roadside assistance may have their own requirements, to be checked. In case of danger on the road, the customer is directed to 911. The data used for this guide gives no other official source for this rule, so check directly with the competent authorities.
Remy collects the address, the vehicle and the situation, then passes the call to the on-call dispatcher, without promising any delay or rate.
This list helps you spot the points to check before they become a problem. Remy applies the rules it knows, and you validate the rest.
General information, not legal advice. Check with your professional order or the official source.
Questions
Does this guide replace legal advice?
No. It is general information drawn from official sources. For your specific situation, validate with the relevant body or your legal advisor.
Can Remy tell me whether my insurance covers damage?
No. Remy never states what your insurance covers or not. It hands over to your team for any coverage or damage question.
Can I send a July 1 reminder to all my past customers?
Only to those who consented, with your business identified and an unsubscribe link. Remy only sends campaigns to consenting customers.
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