Issues and Activities

Statement Regarding the Competition Bureau’s New Plan: Consumers will be the big losers

Statement by the Consumers Association of Canada Regarding the Competition Bureau's Challenge of Visa and MasterCard: Consumers will be the big losers under the Competition Bureau's Plan

Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers Association of Canada, has made the following statement in response to today's decision of the Competition Bureau to challenge two rules of Visa and MasterCard:

"The Consumers Association of Canada is extremely disappointed in today's decision by the Competition Bureau to challenge two critical consumer protection measures. This is a disappointing day for Canadian consumers. The Competition Bureau appears to have abandoned our interests in favour of the well-organized merchant lobby.

Who Wants Surcharging? Not Consumers! Research shows 90% of Canadians oppose surcharging

Who Wants Surcharging? Not Consumers! Research shows 90% of Canadians oppose surcharging
December 17, 2010

Responding to media reports suggesting Canada’s merchant lobbyists are seeking to impose surcharges on Canadian consumers when they pay by credit card, and have lobbied the Competition Bureau for the right to do so, the Consumers Association of Canada (CAC) today released the results of a survey that found 90% of Canadians oppose credit card surcharging. 

Consumers Assess Mergers Among Big Banks

A presentation to the Minister of Finance

December 31, 2003

The bulk of economic evidence does not support a case for mergers among big Canadian banks. Much of this evidence can be assessed by the Competition Bureau while prudential matters are appraised by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. However, additional appraisal of proposed bank mergers by the House of Commons is necessary for at least three reasons. These issues are: downstream impacts on costs in the economy, the concentration of power, and effects on the quality of financial services.