Ottawa – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) recently wrote to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, urging the federal government to preserve and establish sustainable, long-term funding for consumer advocacy organizations.
In its letter to Committee Chair, the Honourable Karina Gould, and members of the Committee, PIAC reiterated its serious concerns about the elimination of the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) and the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative (CCPI), and the potential consequences for consumer representation in Canada.
For 50 years, PIAC has advocated for the interests of Canadian consumers, particularly lower-income and vulnerable consumers. Through our legal and research work, including our regular participation in regulatory proceedings and government consultations, PIAC has worked to ensure that consumers have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their rights.
Funding administered through OCA has supported important consumer research on issues such as communications affordability, privacy, broadband advertising, grocery competition and many other issues affecting consumers. These studies have informed PIAC’s advocacy and assisted us in presenting relevant evidence and recommendations that protect and advance consumer interests.
The loss of this funding threatens the ability of consumer organizations to continue this work. This would directly impact Canadians who would lose an important channel through which their concerns about affordability, access to essential services, privacy, unfair treatment and many other issues reach decisionmakers.
PIAC’s Key Recommendations
- Establish funding of at least $5 million annually for independent consumer organizations, indexed to inflation, beginning in 2027–28. Provide this funding on a stable basis through renewable five-year agreements.
- Prevent an interruption in funding after March 2027. Maintain the current OCA office or establish a clearly mandated and adequately resourced federal funding office, and provide bridge funding until the permanent arrangements are operational.
- Establish a formal framework for ongoing consultation and engagement with consumer organizations to ensure that consumer interests are consistently represented in federal policy and regulatory decision-making.
As new technologies, including artificial intelligence, create additional challenges for consumers, the need for research and effective consumer representation remains critical. We emphasize that while government regulators and enforcement agencies perform important functions, they do not replace the independent perspective that consumer advocacy organizations bring to policy development. PIAC urges the federal government to recognize the importance of consumer advocacy and ensure that organizations representing Canadians have the resources necessary to continue their work.
For the full letter, see here.
