TORONTO, December 7, 2021 – Consumers Council of Canada is now a member organization of Consumers International, the membership organization for consumer groups around the world.

“Consumers Council of Canada is pleased to be accepted into membership at Consumers International, with the opportunity to represent Canadian consumers in vital global initiatives necessary to protect and empower the world’s consumers,” said Council President Don Mercer.

“Consumers International is delighted to welcome Consumers Council of Canada to our global consumer advocacy membership,” said Helena Leurent, Director General, Consumers International. “As pressure on consumers grow, global and collaborative actions are vital to shape a global marketplace that works for all. We look forward to working together to strengthen the global consumer movement and bring the voices of consumers to the forefront of global change.”

The Council’s membership in Consumers International will connect its members to important conversations, information sharing and action aimed at protecting consumers in Canada and worldwide concerning major marketplace influences requiring global action like:

• Climate change and sustainable communities and consumption
• “Digital disruption” of markets and consumer empowerment online
• Consumer product quality, value and safety
• Regulatory innovation to protect and empower consumers
• Access to products and services that meet basic needs and sustain human health
• Ethical trade practices

“The Council is eager to bring the perspectives of individuals and other Canada organizations working on these important issue areas to other Consumers International member organizations and stakeholders,” said Mercer. “And our organization and Canadians have much to gain by learning from and working in concert with other consumer organizations around the world.”

“The consumer movement has grown from a pioneering group of founding members in 1960 to an incredibly diverse and powerful global network in 2021,” said Leurent.

During Consumers International’s 60th anniversary in 2020, the consumer movement identified three top issues for consumer protection and empowerment everywhere.

• Sustainability: ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns and a just transition for all.
• Digitalization: to empower consumers and accelerate improvements across a number of areas, including public health, the environment and education.
• Inclusion: to ensure access to basic necessities such as water, food, electricity and healthcare for all consumers

Consumers International also works closely with the Next Generation Leaders Network – 30 innovative consumer advocates under the age of 30 – to recognise, develop, and support youth voices from across our global consumer advocacy membership.

Consumers International’s latest work includes:

• Representation of the voices of consumers at an international level during the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), and beyond.
• Establishment of the Guidelines for Online Product Safety to address the urgent need for consumer protection in online marketplaces.
• Mobilization of the global consumer movement during World Consumer Rights Day 2021 around ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’, reaching a total global audience of over 31 million consumers.
• Coordinating a global study to provide a snapshot of consumers’ experience with packaging. This research was led by nine Consumers International members across the global, representing around 8 billion consumers.
• Sharing the consumer experience of financial services, in 32 low and middle income countries and how consumer advocates play an active role in supporting and defending those in need.

For 2022, Consumers International has identified Fair Digital Finance as a top concern on its global agenda. It is working to mobilize the consumer movement and decision-makers to bring about digital financial services which are fair, safe, and data protected and private for all.

“Consumers International will strive to continue to work closely with our global membership and key partners to drive change towards a safer, fairer, and more sustainable world,” Leurent said.

About Consumers Council of Canada

Consumers Council of Canada is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit federal corporation, incorporated in 1994. It works towards an improved marketplace for consumers in Canada through research, education and informed consumer representation in public processes. The Council advocates for the application of principles contained in the U.N. Guidelines for Consumer Protection. One of Canada’s most active multi-issue consumer groups, the Council seeks to provide perspectives to help business and government manage consumer issues and to educate and inform consumers, to achieve an efficient, equitable, safe and effective marketplace for consumers. For more information about the Council go to: https://www.consumerscouncil.com

About Consumers International

Consumers International is the membership organization for consumer groups around the world. It believes in a world where everyone has access to safe and sustainable products and services. Together with, over 200 member organisations in more than 100 countries, Consumers International empowers and champions the rights of consumers everywhere. It is their voice in international policy-making forums and the global marketplace to ensure they are treated safely, fairly and honestly. Consumers International is resolutely independent, unconstrained by businesses or political parties. It works in partnership and exercises its influence with integrity, tenacity and passion to deliver tangible results.

For more information about Consumers International go to: https://www.consumersinternational.org