The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) today announced the appointment of Consumers Council of Canada President Don Mercer to a three-year term on its Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC).

The FCAC ensures federally regulated financial entities, such as Canada’s nationally chartered banks, comply with consumer protection measures. It also promotes financial education and consumer awareness of their rights and responsibilities. The 15-member CPAC supports the FCAC by providing advice on priorities and objectives, identifying trends, issues and research.

Mercer identified three specific topics he would like the CPAC to address. First is the state of vehicle lease rollovers and car loans that could jeopardize consumers’ ability to travel to work. Second is the government’s ability to receive and process complaints. FCAC’s research has shown some significant shortcomings in how banks manage consumer complaints, and during the COVVID-19 emergency, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has closed its call centre and is operating at reduced capacity. Finally, the high-interest lending industry has been the focus of three Consumers Council of Canada research reports that included many recommendations for federal and provincial policymakers.

The FCAC news release states that the CPAC members were selected “based on principles of openness, transparency and merit. In order to reflect Canada’s diversity, particular consideration was given to candidates’ geographic location and representation.”

The 15 members of FCAC’s Consumer Protection Advisory Committee are:

• Millie Acuna, a program manager with SEED Winnipeg.
• Lise Estelle Brault, a director with Autorite des marches financiers in Montreal.
• Martin Coppack, director of Fair by Design Campaign in London (UK)
• Christian Corbeil, CEO of Montreal-based Option consommateurs
• Robin Ford, a Vancouver-based policy development and regulatory consultant
• Gail Henderson, associate professor at Queen’s University Faculty of Law in Kingston, Ont.
• George Iny, executive director of the Automobile Protection Association
• Kelley Keehn, a personal finance educator and author from Edmonton
• Marc Lacoursiere, professor of economic law at Laval University
• Don Mercer, president of the Consumers Council of Canada
• Elizabeth Mulholland, CEO of Prosper Canada in Toronto
• Glen Padassery, executive vice-president policy, and chief consumer officer for Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
• Michelle Pommells, CEO of Credit Counselling Canada in Toronto
• Michael Thom, managing director for CFA Societies Canada
• Benjamin Wolthers, a lawyer with the New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Commission.