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Welcome to the PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE / LE CENTRE POUR LA DÉFENSE DE L’INTÉRÊT PUBLIC
PIAC is a non-profit organization that provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services.
Latest Updates ...
(Un)Lawful Access Legislation – Ottawa Public Forum
Privacy → Wednesday, February 01, 2012(Un)Lawful Access Legislation – Ottawa Forum ABOUT ONLINE SPYING : The government is trying to push through a set of electronic surveillance laws that will invade your privacy and cost you money. The plan is to force every phone and Internet provider to allow “authorities” to collect the private information of any Canadian, at any time, without a warrant. Learn more and sign ...
Consumers should be wary of risks in virtual worlds
Consumers → Wednesday, January 11, 2012The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today released a report entitled “A Virtual Fortune: Consumer Protection for Banking and Consumer Fraud in Virtual Worlds”. The report studies virtual worlds, which are sometimes described as “massively multiplayer online role-playing games” (MMPORGs) that provide an immersive virtual experience for many players that many players ...
Change data breach bill to notify more consumers, New PIAC report
Privacy → Monday, January 09, 2012The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today released a report entitled “Data Breaches: Worth Noticing?”. The report examines data breach notification in Canada in the private sector in general and in particular whether the proposed federal data breach notification law (Bill C-12) is adequate to protect Canadian consumers. “Data breaches affect consumer confidence in the new ...
Transport Canada Finally Agrees to Implement All-in Pricing for Air Fares
Transport → Friday, December 16, 2011(Ottawa) The Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a member of the travel industry and consumer coalition the Travel Protection Initiative (TPI) that pushed for all-in price advertising for airline prices in the previous decade, expressed its satisfaction that Transport Canada will finally move ahead to implement the legislation that mandates airline regulations to provide a ticket price to ...
Northwestel regulatory framework decision is a “New Deal for the North”
Telecom → Wednesday, December 14, 2011(OTTAWA) The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is calling today’s CRTC decision on Northwestel’s regulatory framework “a new deal for the North”. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission rejected efforts by the incumbent provider of local telephone service in Canada’s three territories to raise rates and put off the entrance of local ...
Consumers to Benefit from Sustainable Competition in Internet At Last
Telecom → Tuesday, November 15, 2011Media Release OTTAWA – Consumers are the real winners in a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision on wholesale Internet services released today, said the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). In a remarkably clear and helpful decision, the CRTC set wholesale rates for Internet that will allow independent ISPs to offer sustainable competitive ...
Consumers need more comprehensive protection for returns of online purchases
Consumers → Monday, November 14, 2011The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today released a report entitled “Point of No Return: Consumer Experiences Returning Online Purchases”. The report studies the importance of the return policy for consumers purchasing goods online in light of the demonstrated growing popularity of online shopping. The 108-page report examines consumers’ experiences with returns for online ...
You’re invited: PIAC Dinner, November 18, Melanie Aitken, Commissioner of Competition
Other → Monday, November 07, 2011Are you interested in consumer protection, real estate commissions or unadvertised fees? Are you concerned about the lack of competition and rules in the wireless, telecommunications and media industries? Do you care about the internet, privacy or the banks? The Public Interest Advocacy Centre cares. Please support the Public Interest Advocacy Centre by coming to our Annual ...
Leading Canadian Consumer Groups Alarmed by Dramatic Increase in Wireless Complaints, le gouvernement doit agir
Telecom → Friday, November 04, 2011Ottawa – Four major Canadian consumer organizations are calling for action from the federal government and the CRTC in light of soaring number of wireless complaints to the Commissioner for Telecommunications Services (CCTS). Yesterday, the CCTS announced that telecommunications service and billing complaints had more than doubled from the previous year (a 114% increase), mostly related ...
PIAC Letter to Minister of Finance re: Toronto Dominion’s Withdrawal from the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments
Financial → Friday, October 28, 2011Dear Minister Flaherty: The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is a non-profit organization that provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services. PIAC is deeply disappointed and alarmed by TO Bank Group’s (TO) decision this week to withdraw its unresolved ...
Objection to the proposed incorporation of Rogers Communications Inc. to carry on the business of banking in Canada
Financial → Thursday, October 27, 2011Objection to the proposed incorporation of Rogers Communications Inc. to carry on the business of banking in Canada As per s. 26(1) of the Bank Act, PIAC submits this letter to the Superintendent as an objection to the proposed incorporation of Rogers to carry on the business of banking in Canada. Full text of the letter: Download File: piac_letterofobjection_rogers_bank_final.pdf [size: ...
PIAC Applauds Appointment of Consumer Services Minister in Ontario
Consumers → Thursday, October 20, 2011The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) hailed the continuance of the stand-alone ministry of consumer services by Premier Dalton McGuinty today (Oct. 20, 2011). Margarett Best, MPP for Scarborough Guildwood is the new minister. “We are pleased that Premier McGuinty’s government realizes the importance of having a seat at the cabinet table for a minister that is entrusted with ...