Ontario NDP takes on price gouging, big business rip-offs

QUEEN’S PARK – Tom Rakocevic (Humber River—Black Creek), Official Opposition NDP critic for Consumer Protection, joined advocates from across the province, as well as NDP MPPs Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale—High Park), and Catherine Fife (Waterloo) to announce details of their Consumer Watchdog Act, 2023, calling for solutions to address the lack of consumer protection in Ontario.

“Consumers deserve to be treated with fairness and honesty but far too often this isn’t the case", said Rakocevic. "We have the opportunity to make real change in the lives of Ontarians, by bringing in a Consumer Watchdog to challenge widespread consumer gouging across many industries and punish those who take advantage of vulnerable consumers. The government has brought in changes to the Consumer Protection Act, but consumer advocates have told them it simply doesn't go far enough. Now is the time for real change, to give Ontario consumers the protections and relief they need and deserve.”

Rakocevic tabled the Consumer Watchdog Act in June 2023. This was the second time the NDP have introduced this bill.

“Ontario needs a consumer protection watchdog, especially as life gets more unaffordable by the day,” said Karpoche, the Official Opposition NDP critic for Affordability. “We know predatory practices like grocery price gouging are out of control, and there are actions we can take, right now, at the provincial level to protect consumers.”

The Consumer Watchdog would be similar to Ontario’s Auditor General, whose reports highlight major issues in the province and can lead to necessary changes.

“This government has the opportunity to make real change to the lives of Ontarians, bring in a consumer watchdog, give Ontarians recourse when large corporations take advantage of them with predatory sales practices,” said Fife, the Official Opposition NDP critic for Finance. “If the Conservatives and the Liberals want to make life easier and more affordable for Ontarians, they’ll support this NDP solution.”

QUOTES
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
“The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly welcomes and supports the introduction of Bill 122 to provide for the development and implementation of a plan to establish a consumer watchdog organization.”

Daniel Tsai, Consumer Advocate and Toronto Metropolitan University Professor
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant. An Ontario Consumer Watchdog is what this province sorely needs to fight food inflation and price gouging and to protect consumers. If Ontario implements MPP Tom Rakocevic's Consumer Watchdog Bill, Ontario will be the undisputed leader in protecting consumers in Canada."

Chris Ballard, President of Consumers Council of Canada
“Ontario’s Legislature needs the input of a strong, capable and coherent voice to help it better understand the needs of the province’s consumers and to make sure the consumer protection law it passes meets expected goals. Nationally and in Ontario, Canada’s consumers require high level government officials who speak for consumers as their sole objective, and make sure they are heard in cabinet deliberations and internal trade talks affecting consumer welfare.”