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
Budget 2023 – Canada’s Consumer Initiatives
Newer initiatives such as commitments to clean energy technology, rebates for high grocery prices and dental care gained most of the attention, but the 2023 Federal budget also included numerous pledges to address long-standing consumer protection issues. Topics such...
How Independent Are Financial Services Arbiter Community Directors?
The independence of ‘community’ directors is a key point of differentiation between the submissions of consumer organizations and the submissions of financial services industry groups to the governance review underway from Canada’s leading financial services arbiter....
Ottawa Considered Expanded Role for Canadian Consumer Advocate
Canada’s federal government considered an expanded role for a Canadian Consumer Advocate beyond what was proposed in the 2019 mandate letters, according to documents release in an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request. The Advocate role was included in the...
External Banking Complaints Resolution Back With Ottawa
Following the release of required reviews of the operations of Canada’s two banking dispute resolution operators, the issue of how to improve outcomes for consumers now rests with the Finance minister. Since 2008, Canadian banks have been allowed to select their own...
OBSI Consumer Council Shuttered After Mass Resignation
The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) shut down its Consumer and Investor Advisory Council (CIAC) in mid-June, one day after four of five CIAC members resigned, and three days after the release of a report that described a frayed relationship...
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