Consumer Awareness

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services works to ensure that Ontario consumers know their rights.  A wide range of consumer information, including printable brochures, is available online at www.ontario.ca/consumerprotection.

The Young Consumers Awareness Campaign (March 28 – April 4) is a new initiative, which aims to inform a young audience with need-to-know advice on credit and consumer issues.  Themes of the campaign will include:

• Smart money management
• Credit awareness and education
• Avoiding identity theft
• Staying safe online

The campaign will seek to work in partnership with key players in the consumer awareness field.  Some of the initiatives for this campaign will consist of:

• Young Consumers’ Advisory Group made up of secondary school, college, and university students to provide feedback on campaign initiatives and effectiveness
• Interactive Young Consumers’ Zone on the Consumer Protection website, to be launched in June, 2008
• Young Consumers’ Education Modules (on CDROM made available to Ontario secondary schools teachers)
• Young Consumers’ Roadshow to be piloted in ten Ontario schools between September 2008 and March 2009

The Consumer Protection Website provides assistance and further information on the following subjects:

• The Consumer Protection Toolkit to help consumers exercise their rights
• Consumer Links to other valuable fraud prevention and consumer protection resources
• Consumer Beware List to help consumers steer clear of “problem” operators
• New Scams & Frauds and Charges & Convictions sections
• New Information for Businesses section with links and resources to help  the  business community  understand its obligations to consumers

Another tool to inform consumers is the smart consumer calendar updated annually with relevant information.  The 2008 smart consumer calendar provides consumers with helpful tips and resources, while educating them about frauds and scams in the marketplace.

• The ministry distributes 275,000 English and 30,000 French copies of the calendar to individuals and organizations across Ontario every year.
• The calendar is available at all MP and MPP constituency offices, and at all ServiceOntario / government information centres.

Charges and Convictions

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is active in investigating unfair business practices and bringing charges against suspect businesses violating consumers’ rights.

Operating with authority created under the Consumer Protection Act 2002, the branch has made significant contributions to over 930 convictions within the last four years.  These convictions, sought through Ontario’s provincial offences courts, are pursued according to several guiding principles that form the basis of all branch investigations:

• marketplace fairness
• reliable disclosure
• fair value to consumers
• a regulatory environment that is responsive to the needs of businesses and consumers

Engaging in unfair business practices is prohibited in Ontario.  The Consumer Protection Act contains 92 separate sections under its regulations covering issues relevant to consumer agreements, including, but not limited to:

• Disclosures in various types of agreements
• Cancellation rights
• Timelines for receiving and issuing refunds
• Monetary threshold for agreements
• Calculation of annual percentage rates inside credit agreements
• Public record / disclosure of information

Ontario’s Consumer Protection Branch administers provincial consumer law by mediating consumers’ complaints and providing them with information and advice on their rights and investigating consumer law violations.  The Branch also regulates collection agencies, consumer reporting agencies and cemeteries.

Anyone with knowledge of or information about the use of unfair business practices in Ontario should call the Consumer Protection Services Bureau toll-free at 1-800-889-9768.

Greg Dennis,
Minister’s Office,
416-327-3072

Ciaran Ganley,
Communications Branch,
416-325-8659