A Canadian Consumer Advocate
Consumers Council of Canada has recommended the Government of Canada act swiftly to keep its commitment to create a new agency to rebuild consumer confidence and protect consumers – the Canadian Consumer Advocate.
Governments Must Re-focus on Protecting People
Canadians are quickly learning how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed shopping, working, health care and their economic prospects. A safe marketplace has never been more important. Consumer confidence and fair market practices are critical to Canada’s economic recovery. Canada needs a plan – and fast – to restore both.
A National Agency for Consumers
Canadian consumers deserve a national agency that has the sole objective to argue for consumers, advance their needs, and stress the relationship of those needs to the decision-making processes within agencies of government.
The economy is for consumers, not just producers. The federal government should expand its current plan for the Canadian Consumer Advocate to ensure it is an independent agency answerable to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. The Advocate should be capable of promoting meaningful engagement with and on behalf of consumers.
Constant, Capable Advocacy Needed to Protect Consumer Protections
Canada needs its government to keep the promise it made in 2019 and hold ministers accountable for the mandate given to them to establish the Canadian Consumer Advocate and ensure it can capably protect consumers’ interests.
Related Publications
Time For A Real Federal Consumer Advocate – This report by the Consumers Council of Canada highlights the reasons and benefits for expanding the role of the Government of Canada’s proposed Canadian Consumer Advocate beyond receiving complaints. It argues the government needs to address the present patchwork and isolated responses to consumer needs and vulnerabilities, which will not meet the challenges consumers face in a post COVID-19 economic recovery, and beyond.
Consumers Council of Canada Parliamentary Submission: Federal Budget 2021 – A submission to the Standing Committee on Finance of the Parliament of Canada by the Consumers Council of Canada in response to its pre-budget consultations concerning the 2021 federal budget.
Super Complainers: Greater Public Inclusiveness in Government Consumer Complaint Handling – This research reveals consumer views on third-party consumer complaint management systems (consumer complaint handling systems operated by entities other than private-sector businesses) and their receptivity to alternative systems where greater transparency, and consumer advocacy group participation is encouraged.
A ‘Sustained Institutional Role’ for Consumer Organizations in ‘Internal Trade’ Harmonization – This research found the Canadian public expects well-resourced consumer groups to be part of any stakeholder process attached to negotiations among the federal and provincial governments concerning internal trade.
News About Consumer Representation
Ontario Private Members Bill Looks To Create Consumer Watchdog
Four Ontario politicians introduced a private member’s bill to create a provincial consumer watchdog, claiming “the current level of consumer protection in Ontario is not adequate.” The preamble to the Bill sponsored by four New Democratic Party MPPs, notes that...
Consumers Council of Canada now Consumers International member
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...
Ontario Auditor Report Blasts Government Management, Enforcement
The release of Ontario Auditor-General’s reports December 1 reads like a consumer protection catastrophe. The complete package contains more than 1,300 pages of reports, including more than 20 value-for-money audits of Ontario regulatory authorities and broader...
Regulators Seek Public Input on Rogers’ Shaw Purchase
A request for information from Canada’s Competition Bureau offers Canadians a chance to participate in the arbiter’s investigation of Rogers’ proposed purchase of Shaw. The Bureau’s review is one of the regulatory steps that the proposed $26 billion transaction must...
Consumer Protection Platform Pledges: Green and Bloc
Canadians will elect a new government September 20. Each of Canada’s major parties has published a platform that describes the priorities it would implement if elected. To help voters understand how the parties compare on important consumer protection issues,...
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