Public Interest Advocacy Centre - Canada

07/08/2026

The CRTC has issued a show-cause proceeding that will review certain fees and charges issued by Bell, Rogers and TELUS. The Commission is considering whether these fees are prohibited under the Telecommunications Act and contrary to Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-43, which established new consumer protections prohibiting activation and modification fees. This policy prohibits fees whose main purpose is to discourage customers from switching plans.

If you have noticed any unclear or new fees or charges and have any concerns, here's your chance to share feedback. Don't wait, share your comments with the Commission now! The last date to submit initial comments is July 30, 2026.

See here for the details of this proceeding: https://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2026/2026-155.htm

Through its Consumer Protections Action Plan, the Commission is working to help protect and empower Canadians in their dealings with Internet, cellphone, home phone, and television service providers.

06/23/2026

PIAC's Acting General Counsel, Tahira Dawood joins Peter Nowak on his podcast to talk about click-to-cancel rules, the CRTC policy on self-service mechanisms (coming into effect next year) and the need for a broader right to cancel.

Listen to the Podcast here: https://www.donotpassgo.ca/p/is-click-to-cancel-finally-on-canadas

New telecom cancellation rules are on the way, but subscription lock-in is still widespread

06/19/2026

PIAC together with many civil society groups, organizations and experts call for clear, enforceable privacy rules governing how federal political parties collect, use, and share Canadians’ personal information. See here for more: https://action.voterprivacy.ca/page/193988/action/1
OpenMedia Canadian Civil Liberties Association

More than thirty-five organizations, experts, and civil society groups are calling on Canada’s federal leaders to close a major gap in privacy protection by bringing federal political parties under Canada’s privacy laws.

06/12/2026

PIAC along with other consumer groups voice concern regarding federal cuts to the Office of Consumer Affairs and the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative. These initiatives are coming to an end by March 2027.

“You are weakening the voice of consumers because consumers don’t go on their own to present their arguments to a regulator. If there is no consumer group that is able to actively participate in different regulatory hearings or different matters, then you don’t have your voice on the table,” said PIAC's Acting General Counsel, Tahira Dawood.

See here: https://globalnews.ca/news/11900935/consumers-advocacy-groups-reeling-ottawas-funding-cuts/ Global News
Option consommateurs

Option consommateurs, a Quebec-based non-profit consumer advocacy group, is also sounding the alarm about the changes from Ottawa.

06/12/2026

PIAC along with other consumer groups voice concern regarding federal cuts to the Office of Consumer Affairs and the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative. These initiatives are coming to an end by March 2027.

“You are weakening the voice of consumers because consumers don’t go on their own to present their arguments to a regulator. If there is no consumer group that is able to actively participate in different regulatory hearings or different matters, then you don’t have your voice on the table,” said PIAC's Acting General Counsel, Tahira Dawood.

See here: https://globalnews.ca/news/11900935/consumers-advocacy-groups-reeling-ottawas-funding-cuts/ Global News

Option consommateurs, a Quebec-based non-profit consumer advocacy group, is also sounding the alarm about the changes from Ottawa.

06/11/2026

PIAC commented on the National Anti-Fraud Strategy consultation, earlier in April. Department of Finance Canada in collaboration with other federal departments, launched a consultation to seek feedback on proposed measures for a National Anti-Fraud Strategy.

PIAC 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.

The written brief submitted by PIAC to the BANC Committee regarding Bill C-15, Division 16 (Bank Act, Consumer-targeted Fraud) was also sent along with these comments.

See here for PIAC's comments: https://www.piac.ca/2026/06/11/piac-commented-on-the-national-anti-fraud-strategy/

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) commented on the National Anti-Fraud Strategy consultation, earlier in April. The Department of Finance, in collaboration with other federal departments, launched a consultation to seek feedback on proposed measures for a National Anti-Fraud Strategy. PIAC....

05/29/2026

Last month, PIAC commented on OBSI's External Review. We raised concerns regarding limited consumer awareness of OBSI, and called for OBSI’s lack of binding authority to be addressed on an expedited basis. See here for more: https://www.piac.ca/2026/04/24/piac-comments-on-obsi-external-review-2026/

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) provided its comments to the OBSI Independent External Review. PIAC’s experience and research suggests that the OBSI is not sufficiently well known in Canada, and significant effort is still required to increase consumer awareness.

05/20/2026

NEW: PIAC published its Report – A Review of Restrictive Covenants and Grocery Competition in Canada that calls for transparency and national collaborative action to combat anti-competitive property restrictions.

The Report explored how restrictive covenants, a form of property control that limits how real estate can be used by competitors, impedes competition in the grocery sector and how can such negative implications be mitigated. PIAC also reviewed exclusivity clauses, another form of property control to understand how these different restrictions affect consumers’ access to food and grocery stores.

PIAC found that the legal nature of restrictive covenants, their scope, operation, and effects on competition in the grocery sector in Canada are not easily understood and widely known by consumers. PIAC also found that there is limited public understanding of exclusivity clauses.

The data on how, and where restrictive covenants and exclusivity clauses apply in the grocery sector across Canada is not easily accessible.

See here for more: https://www.piac.ca/2026/05/20/piac-report-a-review-of-restrictive-covenants-and-grocery-competition-in-canada/

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today published its Report concerning Restrictive Covenants and Grocery Competition in Canada. PIAC also reviewed exclusivity clauses, another form of property control to understand how these different restrictions affect consumers’ access to food and gro...

03/15/2026

PIAC has been fighting for better consumer protections for almost 50 years! Today, on , we ask for your support in helping us fight the good fight. Join us today: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/14349

03/03/2026

Air passenger protection? We fight for that.

Click here to join the fight: https://lnkd.in/gtqunSvd