Toronto: Ontario has strengthened protection and enhanced business practices — at home, online and in communities.
“The people of Ontario need to feel confident that there are strong protections in place when they spend their hard-earned money,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services. “This is why we are changing outdated rules and taking a digital first approach to deliver stronger protections that are responsive to the needs of consumers, while fostering the continued growth of a thriving economy for this province.”
Recent accomplishments made by the government to strengthen consumer protection while reducing burden on business include:
• Introducing proposed legislation through the Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act, 2019 that would, if passed, overhaul the Ontario new home warranty and protection program and the Tarion Warranty Corporation to reduce the role of builders and provide more focus on protecting consumers.
• Proposing legislation through the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019 that would, if passed, modernize rules for registered real estate brokerages, brokers and salespersons and better protect consumers when buying or selling real estate in Ontario.
• Implementing changes to the rules under the Vintners Quality Alliance Act,1999 that reduces red tape and provides more flexibility to wineries across the province, expanding wine choices for consumers. One of these changes was adding the Marquette hybrid grape variety to the list of permitted grape varieties to be eligible for Vintners Quality Alliance Ontario approval.
The province will also be conducting a review of the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 in 2020 — the first comprehensive review in almost 15 years — providing the people of Ontario with an opportunity to share how the act can better keep pace with today’s marketplace and further strengthen consumer protection.
Quick Facts
• Bill 159, Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act, 2019 was introduced into the Legislature on December 5, 2019.
• Bill 145, Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019 was introduced into the Legislature on November 19, 2019.