Fighting for consumer rights
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is a national not-for-profit corporation and a federally registered charity that protects consumer interest in regulated industries such as telecommunications, energy, financial services, privacy and transportation.
We help you save money on your bills, get treated fairly by service providers and ensure important services are affordable and accessible for all Canadians.
We Fight for That! Podcast
Executive Director John Lawford (and guests) discuss the latest consumer protection stories.
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PIAC Report Highlights Gaps in Canadian Consumers’ Awareness of Customs Rules as Cross-Border Online Shopping Grows
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today published its report on consumer awareness of Canada’s customs regime amid the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce. The report identifies significant gaps in consumers’ understanding of the applicable duties, taxes and brokerage fees they may face when purchasing goods from foreign online retailers—costs that can be unexpected, poorly disclosed and difficult to dispute. Drawing on focus group findings, the report examines gaps in consumer awareness and provides a consumer-friendly overview of the Canadian customs system.
PIAC calls for greater transparency—and fewer barriers to grocery savings
Ottawa – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) recently commented on the Competition Bureau’s consultation, Behind the price tag: Examining the food supply chain. The Competition Bureau is examining how the food supply chain operates to identify how greater competition can improve outcomes for Canadians at the grocery store. PIAC’s submission focused on retail pricing […]
Apology, clarification, and systemic challenges facing PIAC
PIAC has been fighting on behalf of consumers for 50 years. We are incredibly proud of that history and the many victories we have secured for all Canadians. But while this work is important, it is also under-funded, under-resourced and increasingly complicated. It is in that context that the Board of Directors of PIAC would […]
