OTTAWA – “As we harness new technologies and a rapidly changing marketplace, we must never lose sight of Canadians,” reads the canned quote attributed to ISED Minister Navdeep Bains in the Wednesday afternoon press release announcing new funding for consumer research.
“Our government is committed to protecting consumers and Canadians’ peace of mind while ensuring a competitive marketplace. When it comes to building a strong economy, competition and consumer rights go hand in hand. I look forward to the findings of this research.”
In the list of interesting sounding research projects which have been funded is $81,000 to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) for what is called “Unravelling webs of uncertainty: What an internet code could mean for Canadian consumers” in the government’s announcement. In the short explanation of that, the government says PIAC is going to do “in-depth research of the regulatory framework of Canada’s Internet market. They will also compare Canada’s regulations to those aboard to identify possible improvements to current consumer protection. Finally, they will explore the potential use and benefits of Canada having an internet code.”
As well, Quebec’s Union des Consommateurs has received $81,899 for “Charter for rights for Internet users: For a Canadian perspective.” The descriptor there says the group “will study whether there is a rationale for creating a ‘Charter of Internet Users Rights’ for Canada and if supported, recommend a possible structure and rights to be included in the said Charter.
Union des Consommateurs also received $94,090 for what’s entitled “Communications services: Are the recourses before disconnection?” That research project “will explore what options could be made available to consumers experiencing difficulty in paying their telecom-related bills (internet/cell phones), and provide recommendations on what measures may be implemented to help consumers settle these debts before suffering any unfortunate consequences or penalties,” reads the synopsis on the government’s web site.
