Consumer Protection:

Question: What consumer protection laws in Ontario apply when I buy goods or services from a business and I feel I’m being treated unfairly?

Answer: In Ontario, consumer protection for purchases is primarily built into statutes like Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sch. A; Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34; and Sale of Goods Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.1, plus common-law rules such as implied terms that the product or workmanship is fit for the purpose and meets basic quality expectations.   If you bought something that is misleadingly represented, defective, or does not perform as promised, Sharda Paralegal can help you understand your consumer rights and what practical next steps to take for resolving the issue in Ontario, call to get started.   Sharda Paralegal offers guidance services, not licensed legal practice.

In the world of commerce, and in particular matters of consumer transactions, the individual person as a purchasing consumer is often at significant disadvantage in business dealings, especially when such business dealings involve large corporations.  To help balance the playing field, so to help ensure that individual consumers receive fairness during business dealings, consumer protection laws were put into place.

Without the protection of consumer protection statutes, consumers would be subjected to the common law and the age old adage of buyer beware or caveat emptor as such is known in Latin) and often referred to within historical legal precedents.

The Law

The law contains many statutes that contain provisions providing protection to consumers including, among various others:

• The Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, Chapter 30, Schedule A;
• The Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34; and
• The Sale of Goods Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.1.

In addition to the statute laws as above, and despite buyer beware principles, the common law as ruled by judges also contains protections for consumers such as implied warranties requiring that sellers to supply products appropriate for the intended purpose or for the performance of good work.

Common Issues Include: