Canadians want more product labeling, not reductions in food and drug regulations
In all the slashing and burning of existing environmental laws, the dramatic reduction of oversight of the Canadian domestic spy agency, the loss of sovereignty in allowing U.S. law enforcement agencies into Canada to make arrests, all found in the omnibus budget bill, C-38, last spring, less noticed were significant changes in consumer safety. […]
CRTC should regulate wireless service terms and conditions to create certainty for industry, consumers
The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission is considering calls by industry and consumer advocacy groups to regulate Canada’s wireless telecommunications sector because an absence of federal regulation has led to different rules around wireless services in different provinces. NDP consumer affairs critic Glenn Thibeault is in favour of the CRTC resuming its regulatory authority over […]
Tories not showing leadership on retail marketplace
The people who put Canada in deficit before the recession began want you to believe they are good economic managers. Putting aside that ridiculous claim for a moment, let’s look at two issues on which the Conservatives should be showing leadership: the retail marketplace and household debt. This fall the debate around Canada’s payments […]
Tories turning ‘deaf ear’ to small businesses
Ask just about anyone in Canada and they will be able to easily list their concerns about bank costs—predatory interest rates on credit cards, ever increasing minimum balances required to avoid chequing account fees, and even being charged excessive fees to access their own money at ATMs. These are issues the NDP has consistently […]
Payments system ‘integral’ to Canadian economy, 24 billion payments worth $44-trillion made every year
The following is a speech Finance Minister Jim Flaherty gave at the 15th Payments Panorama Conference in Quebec City, Que., on June 8, 2012. The speech was edited for length and style. It was two years ago at this conference that I announced the appointment of Pat Meredith as Chair of the Task Force […]
Payment system operators violating Competition Act, says Commissioner Aitken
Current payment processing practices violate the Competition Act and should be changed to give merchants more choice and consumers fairer prices, but banks issuing credit cards with premiums and perks on them say it’s the cost of doing business. “Payment cards are a cheaper and a safer payment system than using cash, and the […]
Government’s food inspection overhaul ‘ambitious’ move, CFIA needs resources to deliver
The federal government quietly introduced legislation to overhaul Canada’s food inspection system in June, and while some organizations support the bill, they question whether the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will have the resources to effectively implement the legislation. “The legislation is good. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, but our concern is that they […]
Public policy consultation favours big business, not consumer groups: Whitehurst
Consumer interest groups in Canada are not adequately resourced or funded to allow Canadian consumers’ voices to be a meaningful player in government consultations over prospective policies, resulting in a “systemic issue” of imbalance between big business and everyday consumers at the consultation table, says the Consumers Council of Canada. “There actually needs to be […]
Household debt at all time high, but banking industry says it’s making prudent decisions
Low credit default rates reflect industry and consumer prudence, says the Canadian Bankers Association, but the federal government continues to urge consumers to curb borrowing as household indebtedness reaches all-time highs. Terry Campbell, president and CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association, said that his industry agrees with the federal government’s emphasis on curbing consumer borrowing, […]
Petro-politics heats up following Enbridge fine
Industry and government are looking to triple oilsands output by 2030, but environmental groups are raising concerns over the rapid expansion of the oilsands following a fine levelled against Enbridge last week. Despite assurances from industry, public concerns over the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project peaked last week after the project’s proponent, Calgary-based Enbridge […]
