Consumers’ Association of Canada Opposes Bill s-202
October 9, 2014
The Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC) presented its opposition to bill s-202 today to the Senate Standing Committee with respect to bill s-202.
"This is a bill designed for merchants. We are perplexed that government is proposing to intervene in the credit card market in a manner that puts the interests of merchants ahead of those of consumers. We are also tired of hearing claims that both the government and retailers are acting in our (consumers') interest when this is not a consumer concern", says Mel Fruitman.
Click here for the full presentation. French version is here.
CAC Contacts:
Bruce Cran, President
604-418-8359
Mel Fruitman
Vice President
905-832-3909
Paper Bill Fees Must End: Wireless Carriers and CRTC Disappoint Consumers; Legislation Necessary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2014
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) reacted today to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) announcement that it had failed yesterday to convince Canadian telecommunications carriers and broadcast distributors to eliminate fees for providing bills in paper format. PIAC and CAC noted that the agreement reached with these companies was unacceptable for the vast majority of customers and noted the CRTC’s own displeasure with the outcome, and promise of a public inquiry.
Click here for the complete news release.
Read MorePIAC and Consumers’ Association of Canada Release Open Letter to Chairman of CRTC About Paper Bill
July 29, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) today sent an open letter to Mr. Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regarding the CRTC’s decision to close their complaint about fees charged by telecommunications service providers for providing bills in paper format and to hold a private meeting with the industry. In the letter PIAC and CAC deplore the CRTC’s actions and ask the Chairman to rethink the course the CRTC appears to have chosen.
A copy of the Open Letter is found by following this link. The french version is here.
For more information please contact:
Bruce Cran
President
Consumers’ Association of Canada
(604) 418-8359
bcranbiz@telus.net
CAC/PIAC LETTER - CRTC IS SILENCING PUBLIC ADVOCATES
July 28, 2014
The CAC and PIAC wrote a letter to the CRTC today expressing their profound concern with the actions of the Commission in "closing" their formal application to prohibit telecommunications carriers’ practice of billing for paper invoices, and instead convening what appears to be a private "settlement" meeting between the Vice-Chairs of Broadcasting and of Telecommunications and the industry.
To view the complete letter click here.
Read MoreStatement from the Consumers’ Association of Canada on Anti-Consumer Bill Before the Senate
OTTAWA (May 28, 2014): Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers Association of Canada (CAC), released the following statement on the eve of the Senate Banking Committee beginning its study of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Payment Card Networks Act (credit card acceptance fees), which is sponsored by Senator Pierrette Ringuette. The Bill seeks government intervention in the market to regulate the price merchants pay for credit card acceptance.
“The CAC is disappointed that Parliament is debating a bill that seeks to enrich merchants at the expense of consumers. The fees retailers pay to accept credit cards are a normal cost of doing business that merchants make a conscious decision to incur to improve their customer experience. Merchants continually downplay the benefits of accepting credit cards while seeking measures like Bill S-202 that would dump those costs onto their customers.
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