Canadian consumers are expressing growing concern about the gap between U.S. and Canadian prices for exactly the same goods and services, as the Canadian dollar has been consistently worth the same or more than the U.S. dollar for some time.
The Consumers Council of Canada says there is no need to look farther than one of Canada’s busiest border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge at Windsor, Ontario, to see an example of this persistent problem being experienced by Canadian consumers.
“Consumer choice is severely limited by the ownership situation at the bridge crossing into the United States at Windsor, Ontario, made worse by discriminatory pricing of the toll paid by consumers wishing to pay in Canadian dollars,” said Consumers Council of Canada President Don Mercer. “Other Canada-U.S. border crossing points are demonstrably more cost-effective for consumers, in terms of price and when choice of currency for payment is considered.”
Mercer said consumers are not enjoying the economies of scale at this busy border crossing that might reasonably be expected.
“It is well known that efforts have been thwarted to introduce competition and improve consumer choice at the Canada-U.S. border at Windsor,” he said. “Officials on both sides of the border have an interest in the fair treatment of the users of this important border crossing, because the low-cost and efficient operations of these routes contribute to the efficiency of both the U.S. and Canadian economies, to the benefit of consumers in both countries.”
The Consumers Council of Canada (www.consumerscouncil.com) works collaboratively with consumers, business and government in support of consumers’ rights and responsibilities, seeking an efficient, equitable, effective and safe marketplace for consumers.
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