Fighting for consumer rights
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is a national not-for-profit corporation and a federally registered charity that protects consumer interest in regulated industries such as telecommunications, energy, financial services, privacy and transportation.
We help you save money on your bills, get treated fairly by service providers and ensure important services are affordable and accessible for all Canadians.
We Fight for That! Podcast
Executive Director John Lawford (and guests) discuss the latest consumer protection stories.
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Join PIAC’s Board of Directors
We are recruiting, and we would love to hear from you! The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is actively recruiting new members to its Board of Directors. We are looking for creative, curious and innovative people who want a hands-on role in strengthening a national voice for consumers. You do not need to have sat […]
Federal Budget Leaves Consumers Behind
November 5, 2026: Joint Media Release – The federal budget tabled today includes no measures to ensure that Canadian consumers’ voices are heard in Ottawa, leaving industry free to advance its economic interests without a counterweight to represent the public interest. Earlier this year, the federal government announced that it would eliminate funding for consumer associations across the country, representing a savings of $5 million. And yet, after cutting the program, Minister of Industry committed to finding a way to ensure that civil society organizations have access to funding. However, the budget announced today includes no funding for consumer associations.
PIAC Calls for Sustainable Funding for Consumer Advocacy Groups
PIAC recently wrote to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, urging the federal government to preserve and establish sustainable, long-term funding for consumer advocacy organizations. In its letter, PIAC reiterated its serious concerns about the elimination of the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) and the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative (CCPI), and the potential consequences for consumer representation in Canada. The loss of this funding threatens the ability of consumer organizations to continue their work, which would directly impact Canadians who would lose an important channel through which their concerns reach decisionmakers.
