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
Report: Canada’s Securities Arbiter Should Issue Binding Judgments
Consumer disputes involving Canadian securities firms should result in binding judgments from the industry’s independent arbiter rather than the current “name and shame” enforcement protocol, says a recently released report. The independent evaluation of the Ombudsman...
PIN Questionnaire Shows Support for Government Housing Action
The newest report from the Public Interest Network of the Consumers Council of Canada supports continued government action to make housing more affordable, and suggests that consumers are likely to decrease travel, while walking and cycling more to combat higher fuel...
B.C. Wants to Hear From Consumers About Buying Experiences
British Columbia’s government wants to hear consumers’ experiences in buying products and services to help it improve consumer protection laws. Until June 13, the province is undertaking an online public survey to find gaps in its consumer protection laws. It has...
Housing, Defense Canada’s Top 2022 Budget Priorities
The shortage of affordable housing and increased defense spending highlight Canada’s proposed federal budget for 2022-23, tabled by Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on April 7. Acknowledging that “Canada does not have enough homes. We need...
Piecing Together a Canadian Consumer Protection Policy
The federal government detailed its key consumer protection priorities within 38 mandate letters to ministers made public in December. Those 'marching orders' to ministers include some significant and ambitious commitments to long-standing consumer protection issues....
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