CONSUMER AGENCIES

In Canada there are a number of Government agencies established to help the consumer, and links to these agencies are provided below. There are also other agencies including those in the United States, some of which are cross-border. The problems are common to consumers and small investors everywhere. With new age communication, borders are no longer a restriction for financial predators.

Industry Canada has developed a website to provide help for consumers which was re-launched on April 11, 2002, with many new partners. 

The Canadian Consumer Information Gateway

The Small Investor Protection Association is proud to be partners with the  Canadian Consumer Information Gateway. This website opens the door to reliable consumer information you may not have realized was available.  It gives you the tools you need to make informed decisions, and safe and healthy product choices, alerts you to recalls and scams, and provides you with contacts to seek recourse.

This on-line portal is the first of its kind in Canada.  Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it gives you access to comprehensive consumer information compiled by more than 25 federal government departments and agencies, and many non-government organizations, including SIPA, to provide a comprehensive resource for consumer information.

Better Business Bureaus U.S. and Canada

The Better Business Bureaus U.S. and Canada provides consumer alerts and news. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system in the U.S. extends over 98% of the United States; coast-to-coast, and in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. It also has a partner BBB system that serves much of Canada.

Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus (CCBBB)

The Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus (CCBBB) is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is the governing body of the 14 Better Business Bureaus across Canada. Its mission is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence

Consumer Connection

The Consumer Connection provides information source for and about Canadian Consumers. This is brought to you by Industry Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs.

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports provide consumer information, including the latest on consumer concerns. It reports on matters that affect your health, money, well-being, and offer other consumer information.

Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC)

The Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC) informs consumers on marketplace issues, acts as a consumer advocate, and works with government and industry to solve marketplace problems.

Consumers Council of Canada

Consumer Sentinel

Consumer Sentinel is an international, multi-agency joint project. Consumer Sentinel also enhances cross-border consumer education and prevention efforts. The heart of Consumer Sentinel is a one-stop, secure investigative cybertool and complaint database that provides hundreds of law enforcement agencies immediate access to Internet cons, telemarketing scams and other consumer fraud-related complaints. It gives consumers a way to voice their complaints about fraud to law enforcement officials worldwide.

Crimes of Persuasion

Crimes of Persuasion - Schemes, Scams and Frauds. A writer with a mission to inform the public, along with law enforcement personnel, justice officials and victim support groups, on the workings and scope of telemarketing and investment fraud, so that efforts can effectively be taken to minimize the impact on its victims, and ensure that adequate penalties are in place to deter the perpetrators.

econsumer.gov

econsumer.gov – a site for cross-border e-commerce complaints and world wide consumer protection. econsumer.gov is a joint project of the International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN) and the Consumer Sentinel Network. econsumer.gov is maintained by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)is responsible for enforcing many of the federal laws that protect consumers in their dealings with financial institutions. The FCAC has a responsibility to ensure that federally regulated financial institutions comply with federal consumer protection laws and regulations, and is one of three agencies regulating the activities of financial institutions under federal jurisdiction.

Marketplace - Scams

Marketplace - Scams - Here are some factsheets from the Market Place files to help you stay aware. CBC's Marketplace list of scams.

Office de la protection du consommateur

Office de la protection du consommateur (French only) – Quebec’s Consumer Protection Agency.

Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services

The Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services has a vision: To be a responsive, innovative world leader in customer service and consumer protection by delivering quality products for a fair, safe, dynamic and informed Ontario marketplace.

Phonebusters

Phonebusters is the national deceptive telemarketing call center, operated by the Ontario Provincial Police. Phonebusters plays a key role in educating the public about specific fraudulent telemarketing pitches. It also plays a vital role in the collection and dissemination of victim evidence, documentation, statistics and tape recordings to outside investigations. PhoneBusters is the central agency that collects information on telemarketing complaints throughout Canada and disseminates this information to the appropriate enforcement agency.

Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests concerning the provision of public services, especially telecommunications, broadcasting, energy, and banking, and with regard to privacy and competition.

Reseau de protection du consommateur

Réseau de protection du consommateur (French only) - Vous trouverez sur le site du RPC des informations fournies par vingt-huit associations de consommateurs, des organismes qui oeuvrent aux quatre coins du Québec et dont la principale mission est d'informer et défendre les consommateurs.

Underdogs - The Show that Fights Back - Hosted by Wendy Messley

Everyone has been there - feeling helpless and outgunned by a huge company over something that just isn't fair. No matter what you try, and how hard you fight, you can't break through. But imagine if you could live out that dream of just telling the big guys what you think, face to face? That's what happens on UNDERDOGS: real fights, with real frustration, as exasperated consumers actually get the big companies to pay attention as they bring their fights straight to head office.