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People often call Ontario's con- sumer ministry for help when they have problems in the marketplace. Ministry staff can frequently provide them with the information, coun- selling or services they need. But some con- sumer problems are best handled by other organiza- tions. To make it easi- er to know who to call, Ann Rowan of the Ministry of Consumer and A guide to Ontario ministries |Countrywide Town Centre Rea B.BS-G.5.5o C()lNrllNll)lylWh(rAThl' UAl ll" N ommercta iiBli df.: . igll!tit1jiii'it l - - 1 $520,000 . Catherine & “mu-H Smith. "be. r, ' a f-ft ‘ "0akvillo's Ilomdimitlo/ L] l "h Home Of The Week KIRT I N’S ALL STARS Dem)“ made Esau Tomi M9 -s--r. Mark Kitton .rt m on 1 rory9c 550“” t turtsEl, the 'gi AN JI ad. You ml. '" home "" out Il o 0 will FIO- qhe at; RAVINE £39" .. V , .3 'u. - _-i' ‘3 Jiiky, mx-W _ 4.. , -"T VIEW OF LAKE $1 18,950 2902:292in war' ' me It?! Rowan is chair of the committee N a t i o n a l Consumer Week, April 26 to May 2. "Providing infor- mation that helps consumers is one way to support the campaign's theme, Consumer Week It's everybody business." sl Here's the list of consumer-help agencies. Phone organ says Relations has pre- pared a list of agencies that offer aid to consumers. o n Spacious home situated on large tread lot in East Oakville. 3+ bedrooms. updated kitchen, hmshed basement a. more. Quick possession. she 5259.900 . n s. OF LAKESHORE $399,000 . 'r.'/tis,t?ous LOrnI $329,000 Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (MCCR) Many common consumer com- plaints - such as those about con- tracts. merchan- dise that doesn't perform as adver- tised, or the selling practices of real estate agents, motor-vehicle dealers and travel numbers or addresses are given at the end of the article. agents - come under the jurisdic- RAVINE 3200 SCLFT $294,000 I 'icy 3,111} on complaints about contracts, credit and decep- tive or unfair busi- Registration Division registers births, marriages, deaths. changes of name. property and companies. This makes it pos- sible for people in Ontario to check whether there's a lien on a used car they wish to buy, or to make sure they have clear title to a piece of land. tion of the min- istry's Business Practices Division. The division also regulates collec- tion agencies, con- sumer reporting agencies and a g e n c 1 e s cemeteries L' o n s u m e r s across Ontario are familiar with the division's eight regional offices - C o n s u m e r Services Bureaus. The bureaus advise consumers ness practices Standards Division work The ministry's The Technical Business 338-6550 or Direct Line 847-8660 / MATURE men $369,900 new“ M . mess .-6550 or a: ect line , -8660 Member Broker We he #8inCanadainl992 VY’ V PF' inspects such items as sleeping bags and chil- dren's stuffed toys to ensure only clean, new fill is used by manufac- turers. People who make stuffed arti- cles for sale in Ontario, including home-hobbyists, must be licensed by the branch. ensure public safe- ty. Most of its offices don't have much direct con- tact with con- sumers. But one section of the divi- sion is well known to people interest- ed in crafts. enquiry Many con sumers' first con tact with the min istry throuzh Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Branch tests and Two ministry boards. the Liquor Control Board (LCBO) and the Liquor Licence Board (LLBO), regulate the sale and service of bev- erage alcohol. comes the lines M Recent expansion in the voice-pro- cessing system, to be completed just in time for con- sumer week, will improve customer service, providing quick access to specific informa- tion. For example, people who want to know more about dealing with collection agencies or car repair prob- lems can listen to general informa- tion on a subject, then request a free brochure. Business people in the areas regis- tered or regulated by the ministry can also benefit from the system. For example, someone who needs to know how to register a business name, or how the registra- tion process for travel agents works. can call into the system. receive general information and leave their names to request the appropriate forms. Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada is the nation's watchdog over the safety of many consumer products. especial- ly those geared to children. strollers and chil- dren's car seats, as well as household chemicals and tex- tile flammability. CCAC staff also look into complaints about the packaging, labelling, compo- sition, and quality and quantity stan- dards of foods, textiles, jewelry, precious metals and prepackaged non-food products. In general, the federal govern- ment is concerned with the produc- tion, packaging, distribution and advertising of products, while Ontario provides help after the con- The federal department's prod- uct-safety unit tests cribs, Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada (CCAC) ing of 5, while provides 7 the con- sumer enters into an agreement with a business. M i s l e a d i n g advertising and deceptive market practices are investigated by CCAC, which also keeps records on bankruptcies. The department also protects con- sumers by inspect- ing retailers' weigh scales and residential elec- tricity and natural- gas meters. gas Municipalities are often involved in many other areas that affect con- sumers. For exam- ple, they are usual- ly responsible for licensing street- vendors and local recycling initia- lives. Local police departments will often talk to school classes about the conse- q uence s c shoplifting, as we as safety issues. Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC) T h w I n d s o r , Kitchener/Waterlo 0, London, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Toronto. The CAC is interested in local issues as well as national con- In f o r m at i o n Centres of Ontario. Municipal offices Local councils issue building and home-renovation u o n s u m e r s . Association of Canada is an inde- pendent. non-prof- it organization of volunteers who speak for con- sumers. Ontario chapters are locat- ed cams Community Information Centres C o m m u n i t y information cen- tres are indepen- dent organizations that provide a vari- ety of services in the communities they serve. More information is available from the Association of in Hamilton of ll Professional and Business Associations and Agencies Many profes- sional and busi- ness associations, bureaus and unions work in areas of consumer concern. Better Business Bureaus can also provide consumers with information about local businesses. Enquiry Line, Toronto area (416) 326-8555; toll free 1-800-268-1142; equipment for hearing impaired (416) 326-8566. Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations 555 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6. (Ontario), 234 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario M4P IK5. Telephone (416) 237-0405. Local Business Bureaus are listed in the white pages of telephone directo- ries. Personal prop- erty security regis- tration (416) 325- 8847. Land reg- istry offices are listed in the tele- phone directory Blue Pages. Regional Office, 4900 Yonge St., Suite 601, North York, Ontario M2N 688. Telephone (416) 224-4031; equip- ment for hearing impaired (416) 224-3012. centres are listed in the white pages of telephone direc- tories. C o m p a n i e s Branch (company registrations) (416) 593-8880. LCBO Infoline (product informa- tion) Toronto area (416) 365-5000, or 1 - 8 0 0 - O N T - LCBO. LLBO (liquor licences) (416) 326-0425, or ask at your local LCBO outlet. Consumers' Association of Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada