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 […]
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.
PIAC Report Highlights Gaps in Canadian Consumers’ Awareness of Customs Rules as Cross-Border Online Shopping Grows
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today published its report on consumer awareness of Canada’s customs regime amid the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce. The report identifies significant gaps in consumers’ understanding of the applicable duties, taxes and brokerage fees they may face when purchasing goods from foreign online retailers—costs that can be unexpected, poorly disclosed and difficult to dispute. Drawing on focus group findings, the report examines gaps in consumer awareness and provides a consumer-friendly overview of the Canadian customs system.
