Consumers Council of Canada has delivered its submission to Ontario’s Review of the Consumer Protection Act to Ontario’s Ministry of Government and Consumer services, which is reviewing the Act.

The Council published the document in late October, making six major recommendations, after the government signalled its intent to update the Act. The submission addresses “serious issues about the administration of consumer protection legislation by certain Ontario delegated administrative authorities, which have been repeated targets of Ontario’s Auditor General, civil society organizations and the news media.”

The paper offers guidance on how to close a governance gap in Ontario DAAs that leads to unnecessary friction and economic inefficiency in affected sectors, and undermines consumer confidence essential to smoothly functioning markets.

It addresses how the COVID-19 pandemic is widening stress fractures of underperforming consumer protection frameworks that fail to protect businesses that faithfully and honestly deliver products and services, as well as consumers, from business engaged in misconduct.

It also proposes reforms to a system that presently requires consumers to undertake a mad hunt for justice.

“As Canada’s most populous province, Ontario should lead the way in consumer protection innovation,” said Consumers Council of Canada President Don Mercer. “Sadly, flawed delivery and a snail’s pace of reform exists at too many of Ontario’s consumer protection regulators, despite the repeated chastisement of the government’s own accountability officers. It’s time the government gave clear guidance to these regulators that they must support and employ meaningful, independent consumer representation as a tool to be on track to meet their vital objectives to protect the public.”

Consumers with greater interest in the topic, or who wish to support the Council’s advocacy to protect consumer interests can purchase a copy of the submission through the Council’s online content store.