Financial Support for Consumer Groups Lags Canada’s Peers
The Issue
The importance of a strong consumer voice in a healthy society and healthy economy cannot be overstated. The need to give consumers a voice and protect them are critical, to ensure a just society that protects the vulnerable along with the health and welfare of all Canadians,
With globalized production taking place outside Canada, Canadians need to be assured that products distributed in Canada meet or exceed Canadian standards. Proper accountability and transparency of our regulatory institutions must be ensured.
The role of independent, non-governmental consumer organizations is to inform decision-making, analyze proposed measures and protect consumer interests. Canada has lagged behind other OECD countries in its level of support for its consumer organizations.
By comparison with most other developed countries, Canada’s consumer groups receive little public funding.
Recommendations
Parliamentarians need to ensure that:
- Government takes concrete and progressive steps to increase the role of consumers and priority of consumer interests in decision-making.
- Government institutes a policy framework for consumer representation to guide decision-making within government.
- Government commits to better financing of Canadian consumer groups and associations, including secure and dedicated direct-funding arrangements, to stay competitive with other OECD countries.