PIAC highlighted the challenges consumers face in comparing grocery prices and recognizing when they are getting less value for their money. While loyalty programs and member-only offers can provide savings, complicated conditions, digital requirements and data-sharing demands may put those savings out of reach for some shoppers. PIAC recommended that the Bureau examine the practical implications of retail pricing practices for consumers in the Canadian grocery market. That could be done with further consumer-centric research and analysis, including research involving lower-income and vulnerable consumers.

Personalized pricing may also allow retailers to charge more to consumers who have fewer alternatives. PIAC commented on how shrinkflation—smaller quantities for the same price—and skimpflation—lower quality for the same price—can make it harder to spot reductions in value and choose better alternatives. PIAC discussed how standardized unit pricing can help consumers compare products and package sizes, while emphasizing that it cannot, on its own, reveal reductions in product quality.

PIAC recommended the following:

• Require standardized unit pricing in stores and online: Packaged groceries should display both their selling price and their price per standard unit, such as per 100 grams. Comparable products should use the same measure so shoppers can easily compare value across package sizes. These requirements should cover regular, sale and member prices, as applicable.
• Make discounts and their conditions easier to understand: Member and non-member prices should appear side by side, with the conditions for receiving a discount immediately beside the offer. A member or targeted price should be presented as a conditional discount, separate from the generally available public price, rather than replacing it. This would give consumers a clear benchmark for assessing savings.
• Protect consumers’ personal information: Access to an advertised grocery price should not depend on consenting to marketing, third-party data sharing or other uses of personal information that are unnecessary to administer the discount. Where data collection is necessary, retailers should clearly explain what information they collect, how it will be used and shared, how long it will be retained for, and whether it will be used to select or calculate prices.
• Require clear notices for shrinkflation and material skimpflation: Where the quantity, volume and/or count of a familiar prepackaged grocery product decreases and its unit price increases, a clear notice should appear beside the shelf price and on the product’s online page. PIAC also asked for a more comprehensive disclosure requirement related to skimpflation that could be harder to detect by consumers.
• Protect consumers against unfair personalized and algorithmic pricing: Retailers should not be permitted to charge a consumer more than the public price, or more than otherwise comparable shoppers, because personal or behavioural data suggest that the consumer is willing to pay more or unlikely to switch stores.
• Strong oversight, redress and implementation: PIAC submitted that compliance should not depend on individual consumer complaints. Relevant governments and regulators should proactively monitor compliance and coordinate their efforts to ensure that the framework operates effectively.

For PIAC’s submission, and more details, see here.

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It is in that context that the Board of Directors of PIAC would like to apologize to Mr. Geoff White for any miscommunications arising from comments we made to the CBC for a March 2026 Marketplace special ‘What’s Wrong with your Rights?’ and a related online article.

In that piece, Mr. White, former executive director and general counsel of PIAC, outlined the lack of consumer protections in industries dominated by big companies as well as the stark systemic financial challenges PIAC and other organizations fighting for consumer protections face.

PIAC agrees with these comments and notes that with the coming closure of the federal Office of Consumer Affairs, which funded much of PIAC’s past research, these challenges will be exacerbated.

Mr. White drove home the seriousness of these issues in the episode by relaying that “he left PIAC after going months without paying himself in order to keep the organization afloat amid a lack of funding from the federal government.” He added that he faced “‘a lack of support’” from PIAC’s volunteer board of directors.

When contacted by the CBC to respond to Mr. White’s comments about PIAC, the Board made clear that it believed Mr. White was working in PIAC’s best interest and deferred his compensation in an effort to help navigate the organization through difficult financial times. None of the Board’s comments were meant to suggest otherwise and the Board apologizes if it created that impression.

PIAC also contacted the CBC in an effort to clarify the Board’s comments and have relayed this apology directly to Mr. White.

Mr. White was hired by the Board because of his extensive experience with public interest law and we value his contributions to the organization. We understand and acknowledge that his work at PIAC was significantly affected by the structural funding and cashflow constraints that PIAC and other consumer rights organizations face, and which long pre-date Mr. White’s time at PIAC.

The PIAC Board also apologizes that Mr. White felt insufficiently supported during his time at the organization.The public interest community is small but the issues we’re tackling are massive.

Ultimately, while PIAC is working hard to chart a path to sustainability to ensure our work can continue for another 50 years, there is no doubt that serious policy changes from governments are also needed to ensure that public interest work is properly funded.

PIAC Board of Directors

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This appeal raises important questions about consumer redress where a manufacturer is alleged to have known that a product contained a dangerous defect, including when consumers may recover economic losses in negligence.

The Ontario Court of Appeal found that the alleged diminished value of the unrepaired vehicles was not a recoverable loss. It also set aside the motion judge’s certification of the negligent design and manufacture claims because neither appellant had incurred a recoverable loss. As a result, the certification order was set aside.

PIAC’s intervention will bring a distinct consumer perspective to the issues before the Supreme Court of Canada. PIAC will focus on the importance of public safety and consumer protection, the imbalances in information and bargaining power between manufacturers and consumers, and the significant differences between manufacturer-consumer relationships and commercial arrangements involving sophisticated contracting parties. Consumers generally do not contract directly with manufacturers and often have less information and bargaining power.

PIAC will argue that limiting consumers’ recovery in this context creates an unacceptable moral hazard whereby consumers are left to bear the entire risk of real physical harm.

PIAC looks forward to assisting the Court on these important consumer protection issues. Watch this space and follow PIAC on our social media for more updates.

For more details, see here: Supreme Court of Canada case page

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PIAC’s submission pointed to the underlying gaps that should be considered to have a more comprehensive national anti-fraud policy. PIAC also submitted that the measures being presently considered do not go far enough in terms of raising consumer awareness, as well as protecting against fraud. Consumer losses and liability are key issues that should be a central part of any anti-fraud strategy.

Importantly, PIAC noted that we need practical steps planned and executed to make any changes work, just peripheral discussion on these issues does not and cannot do much. Consumers have been suffering from fraud, particularly vulnerable consumers, including seniors with limited to no redress. Consumers in these cases are often left with considerable liabilities and/or losses that could in some cases jeopardize their entire life savings. It is about time for some clear and concrete action.

Last year in December 2025, PIAC appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy (BANC Committee) to discuss its views and concerns regarding Bill C-15, Division 16 (Bank Act, Consumer-targeted Fraud). The written brief submitted to the BANC Committee was sent with these comments.

See here for PIAC’s comments to the National Anti-Fraud Strategy consultation.

For PIAC’s Comments to the BANC Committee on Bill C-15, Division 16 (Bank Act, Consumer-targeted Fraud), see here.

The post PIAC Commented on the National Anti-Fraud Strategy appeared first on Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

Our Speaker

This year, the Dinner features remarks by Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Ms. Eatrides was appointed to the CRTC in January 2023. She joined the federal public service in 2005 and held a number of senior executive positions at the Competition Bureau, Natural Resources Canada, and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Ms. Eatrides held several leadership roles at the Competition Bureau over a twelve-year period, including Senior Deputy Commissioner in charge of enforcing criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act. During her time at the arm’s-length organization, she developed expertise in telecommunications, broadcasting, and new technologies by leading merger reviews, civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory interventions. Dinner attendees will have the privilege of hearing the CRTC Chairperson’s addresses on consumer empowerment vs. consumer protection in communications.

Following the Chairperson’s remarks and a question or two, attendees will enjoy a delicious four-course dinner, prepared by the incomparable National Arts Centre chefs.

Musical Entertainment

During the remainder of the event, there will be door prizes and musical entertainment by Canadian Folk Music Awards-nominated bilingual band Moonfruits (moonfruits.ca) …

… with special guest, fellow folk music band Tragedy Ann (tragedyannmusic.com) !

Finally, PIAC will be presenting our annual consumer advocacy awards.

A limited number of individual tickets are still available for this collegial event which brings together key industry stakeholders and showcases some incredible speakers with important consumer perspectives concerning the world of regulated services. PIAC asks that any media identify themself and their media organization, ideally in advance.

To reserve one of the remaining individual tickets, kindly fill out the PDF form and return it to dbrady@piac.ca .

For further information, please contact PIAC at dbrady@piac.ca or call 613-562-4002.

The post PIAC Annual Dinner 2024 – Speaker: Vicky Eatrides, CRTC Chairperson and CEO – Limited Tickets Still Available – Musical entertainment by Moonfruits, with special guest, Tragedy Ann appeared first on Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

PIAC Annual Dinner, Speaker: Vicky Eatrides, CRTC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer
THURSDAY, November 28, 2024 at 6 p.m. (eastern time)
National Arts Centre (Rossy Pavilion)

To purchase an individual ticket, please fill out the linked PDF form and return it, ideally by Monday, November 18, 2024, to Donna Brady: dbrady@piac.ca

To sponsor a corporate table, please email Donna Brady: dbrady@piac.ca for details. Our corporate sponsors and their logos will appear at this space shortly, as they join in supporting PIAC.

About the Event

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is thrilled to announce our Annual Dinner 2024, to be held on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the National Arts Centre in the Rossy Pavilion. Registration is now open and details can be found below.

PIAC’s Annual Dinner has a longstanding tradition of being a highlight of the year for advocates, regulators, responsible corporations and students alike. We even often welcome a politician or  exceptional community leaders to discuss issues of consumer protection in Canada at an incredible venue – the Rossy Pavilion at the National Arts Centre.

The Venue – National Arts Centre, Rossy Pavilion, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa

The National Arts Centre is located in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Our dinner will be hosted in the Rossy Pavilion which features views of Parliament and the historic War Memorial through stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a beautiful backdrop for the evening’s events. In keeping with the formality of the venue, we ask that guests attire in business casual.

Our Speaker: Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

In addition to a multitude of wonderful guests and a beautiful venue, this year, we will have the pleasure of hearing an address from Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Ms. Eatrides was appointed to the CRTC in January 2023. She joined the federal public service in 2005 and held a number of senior executive positions at the Competition Bureau, Natural Resources Canada, and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Ms. Eatrides held several leadership roles at the Competition Bureau over a twelve-year period, including Senior Deputy Commissioner in charge of enforcing criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act. During her time at the arm’s-length organization, she developed expertise in telecommunications, broadcasting, and new technologies by leading merger reviews, civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory interventions..

The Dinner

Following Ms. Eatrides remarks, attendees will enjoy a four-course dinner. Dinner will be accompanied by a beverage of choice, and there will be a cash bar available throughout the evening.

There will also be opportunities to enter to win various door prizes throughout the evening. While this event is an opportunity to showcase our incredible speaker who will be providing important consumer perspectives concerning the world of regulated services, this collegial event is also a unique opportunity to bring together industry stakeholders who may also be opponents from time to time in matters of regulatory or industry policy.

The Music – Moonfruits

Both during cocktail hour and during dessert, we will be enjoying live music provided by the exciting Canadian bilingual folk band Moonfruits – who will be playing songs from their large repertoire of original songs. PIAC is pleased to support Canadian artists and content! More on the band, soon.

Consumer Advocacy Awards

During the event, PIAC will also be announcing recipients of its two new annual consumer advocacy awards: the Harry Gow Award for outstanding advocacy in transportation, competition and essential services; and the Ken Rubin Award for outstanding advocacy in privacy, access to information and civic participation.

Come Celebrate PIAC – We Need You!

PIAC has been active in the area of consumer advocacy for over 40 years. Our small team represents consumer interests in the provision of important regulated services on behalf of consumers, and in particular vulnerable consumers. Our staff will be participating and will bring attendees up to date on PIAC’s extensive consumer protection work. The Annual Dinner provides some modest fundraising to support the important work that we do. We very much appreciate your support of our mission to protect consumers and in particular, vulnerable consumers.

We sincerely hope that you will join us for this evening of great conversations, great speakers and great prizes in the beautiful Rossy Pavilion in downtown Ottawa. Registration is now open for individual tickets and corporate sponsored tables.

The post PIAC Annual Dinner – Thursday, 28 Nov 2024; Speaker: Vicky Eatrides, CRTC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer appeared first on Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

We are excited to announce our Guest Speaker is Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Please watch this space in the coming days for information on ordering tickets and a reveal of a special musical guest.

The post Save the Date – PIAC’s Annual Dinner 2024! appeared first on Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

Verify, don’t trust, your cellphone company

CCTS Report Documents increasing wireless complaints

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