# Canada and cross-border SEO: English and French, done right

> Canada and cross-border SEO helps US businesses win Canadian customers and Canadian businesses reach US buyers. We set up English and French pages with correct hreflang, localize spelling, pricing and shipping details, build Canadian listings where you have a real location, and keep email and tracking in line with CASL, PIPEDA and Quebec Law 25.

Quebec shares a border with New Hampshire. For many of our clients, Canada is the nearest new market, not the farthest.

## Why it matters now
Canadian searchers see Canadian results, French-speaking Quebec expects French pages, and Canadian privacy and anti-spam laws are stricter than many US businesses realize. Getting those right is what separates a real Canadian presence from a US site that ships north.

## What is included
- Market and language plan for English Canada and Quebec
- English and French pages with hreflang for en-CA and fr-CA
- Canadian spelling, CAD pricing and shipping or duty information
- Google, Apple and Bing listings plus Canadian directories where you have a real location
- CASL-compliant email consent and Law 25 cookie consent
- Accessibility to WCAG 2.2 AA, which covers Ontario's AODA requirement

## How we do it
1. **Choose markets.** Pick provinces and cities by demand, language and logistics.
2. **Structure.** Set up subfolders and hreflang for English and French.
3. **Localize.** Write or translate pages with native French review, and localize prices and policies.
4. **Comply and launch.** Set consent, privacy and accessibility, then track rankings in Canada.

## Deliverables
- Canada market plan
- Localized page set
- Hreflang and structured data setup
- Compliance checklist

## Who it is for
- US companies selling into Canada
- Canadian businesses expanding into the United States
- Quebec businesses that need French and English websites

## Frequently asked questions
### Do we need a .ca domain?

Not necessarily. Registering a .ca requires meeting CIRA's Canadian presence requirements, and a /ca/ or /fr-ca/ section on your existing domain with correct hreflang usually works well.

### Does our Quebec website have to be in French?

Businesses operating in Quebec generally must offer their commercial website in French under the Charter of the French Language, strengthened by Bill 96. Confirm the details for your business with legal counsel.

### Is Canadian email law different from US law?

Yes. CASL requires consent before sending commercial email, clear sender identification and a working unsubscribe, and it is stricter than the US CAN-SPAM rules.

## Related
- [International & Multilingual SEO](https://sproutgrowthengine.com/services/seo/international-seo/)
- [Email Marketing](https://sproutgrowthengine.com/services/email/email-marketing/)
- [Web Accessibility (WCAG)](https://sproutgrowthengine.com/services/web-design/web-accessibility/)

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Sprout Growth Engine is the AI search and organic growth practice of Sprout for Business, LLC. 15 Cross Rd, Unit 4, Hooksett, NH 03106. Phone 603-227-5240. Contact form: https://sproutgrowthengine.com/contact/. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 59 Google reviews (https://search.google.com/local/reviews?placeid=ChIJj9ZDxjZq4okRzO1Wn8jLTb0, checked 2026-09-29).

HTML version: https://sproutgrowthengine.com/services/seo/canada-cross-border-seo/