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
Independent dispute resolution for telecom and now TV services upheld
The review by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission of the structure and mandate of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services, which provides dispute resolution for Canadian retail consumers of telecommunications and...
New housing-related standards promise consumer benefits
Consumers Council of Canada members were involved providing consumer representation involving two recent high-profile national standards efforts just completed and with the potential to benefit consumers. Council members participated in the development of a new...
Consumer representation, benefits in trade highlighted on Trudeau-Obama agenda
The Consumers Council of Canada has called for and conducted research that has demonstrated the importance of a focus on consumer representation and benefits in harmonized regulations facilitating global trade. No more important trading relationship exist for Canadian...
Lack of urgency around report of food safety gap – symptom of systemic problem
Have Canadian consumers noticed Canadian food inspection officials have been given a deadline to tighten up their food inspection practices (Globe and Mail, March 1, 2016, “Canadian agency given hard deadline by U.S. body to clean up food safety”) Maybe. Hopefully the...
Council members honoured for consumer representation in standards development
Two members of the Consumers Council of Canada were honoured by the Standards Council of Canada for their work representing Canada's consumers in standards development, nationally and internationally. The pair were among five honourees recognized at SCC's annual...
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