Are contests even legal in Quebec?

Question

I ask because I keep seeing Canadian contests that are open to everyone except residents of Quebec. And this isn't to spite Quebec, I'm sure it is because of the laws of Quebec.

And now Google is holding a worldwide coding contest, and Quebec is listed as ineligible, along with badboy nations like Cuba, Iran, and North Korea.

http://code.google.com/codejam/rules.html

Not because Quebec is bad, but because of their uptight government.

What are the laws in Quebec regarding contests where prizes can be won?

Answer 1

The rules and regulations regarding contests, sweepstakes etc. are very strict in Quebec and the companies who sponsor these contests etc. do not want to spend the time and energy to comply with these rules, despite the fact that 1/3 of the Canadian population resides there. But the rules are there to protect the consumer. A lot of these sweepstakes are just come-ons to advertise products, or require that the contestant buy something in order to be eligible. The rules are really not that difficult to follow however. Here is a summary of what is required.

·The conditions for entering the contest

·The places where the public must deposit or send the contest entry forms

·The deadline for entering the contest

·A description of the method of awarding the prizes

·The place, date and time the prizewinner will be named

·The media used to inform the winners of the prizes won

·The place, date and deadline for claiming prizes, or where applicable, whether the prizes will be delivered to the winner

·The information about how a jury will select the winners

·The nature of the skill-testing requirement that a winner has to satisfy in order to claim his prize

·A person for whom a publicity contest is carried on shall furnish security to the board where:

1)He has a head office or place of business in Quebec declared in accordance with the laws of Quebec

2)He has not been convicted of an offence against the Act or these Rules in that year precede the date of the launching of the publicity contest

3)That the value of a prize offered to Quebec residents is more than $ 100