Ministry of Consumer Services (Ontario)
The Ministry of Consumer Services is an Ontario government ministry that informs people about their rights and protections as consumers, and provides assistance if they believe these rights have been violated. It administers Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act which governs most common consumer transactions in the province, unless they’re specifically covered by other Ontario consumer protection laws.
The current minister is Margarett Best.
Consumer protections in Ontario include[1]:
- The right to a cooling off period in many cases. If you buy a health club membership or sign a contract worth more than $50 in your home, for example, you can cancel within 10 days and get a full refund.
- Contracts must be clear and understandable. All required information must be prominent and easy to understand. If there is a dispute over unclear language, Ontario law requires that it must be interpreted in favour of the consumer.
- You can’t sign away your rights. For example, some companies add an arbitration clause to contracts that requires you to use a private arbitration process to resolve complaints, instead of going to court or seeking assistance from the Ministry of Consumer Services. You are not bound by these clauses, even if you have signed the agreement.
- If someone sends you goods you didn’t order, you have no obligation to accept them or pay for them.
These protections, under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, cover most common day-to-day transactions. Other protections apply to specific industry sectors.
- Motor vehicles, for example, must be advertised with “all-in” pricing. There can’t be any extra fees for freight or dealer preparation. And any significant facts about the history of a used vehicle — such as whether it was ever used as a taxi or a police car — must be disclosed.[2]
- New home buyers are protected by warranties which cover deposits, defects in work and materials, and delayed closings.[3]
The ministry is also responsible for legislation intended to protect public safety in areas such as electrical installations, elevators and heating fuels.[4]
Former Ministers
References
External links