Consumers should know to contact proper department Ontarios Ministry of Con sumer and Commercial Rela tions gets many phone calls from people who should be calling the federal department Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada to get help with something And vice versa To better understand who does what In consumer matters con sumers should know the dif ferences between the two govern departments and theii responsibilities Consumer and Corporate Af fairs Canada is generally con cerned with matters relating to the production packaging distribution and advertising of products Ontarios Consumer Ministry is involved more with matters related to transactions between consumers and businesses Many common consumer com plaints such as those about con tracts merchandise that doesnt perform as advertised or the selling practices of realestate agents motorvehicle dealers and travel agents come under the jurisdiction of me Ontario Ministrys Business practices Division Staff in this office regulate these businesses as well as col lection agencies consumer- reporting agencies cemeteries and funeral services Many people become familiar with the consumerservices sec tion of this division Eight Con sumer Services Bureaus across Ontario receive thousands of complaints a year from people who believe theyve been treated unfairly Consumers contact the provincial offices by letter phone and in person Service bureau staff help mediate their disputes The division is also associated with the Ontario New Home War ranty Program which protect people buying new bouses and the Ontario Motor Vehicle Ar bitration Plan put in place to help settle disputes about defects in new vehicles sold in Ontario The Technical Stan dards Division works to help en sure public safety While most of its offices dont have much direct contact with consumers one sec tion of the division is well known to people interested in crafts The Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Branch tests and m spects such items as sleeping bags and childrens stuffed toys to ensure only clean new fill is used by manufacturers People who make stuffed articles for sale in Ontario must be licensed by the branch Consumer and Corporate Af fairs Canada CCAC is also in terested in the safety of con sumer products particularly when the wellbeing of children is at stake The ministry inspects cribs strollers pacifiers and childrens car seats as well as checking textile flammability and household chemicals In addition to safety standards the federal department in vestigates many other types of complaints about consumer pro ducts The packaging labelling composition quantity and qualify standards of foods textiles precious metals and pre packaged nonfood products are all federal Misleading advertising and deceptive marketing practices are also investigated by the The regulation of adver tising is an area that can help consumers understand the dif ference between federal and pro vincial responsibilities False and misleading advertis ing are prohibited by the federal department whether anyone ac tually buys the goods falsely advertised or not The provincial consumer ministry steps in after a consumer has purchased the product and found it doesnt live up to the advertised claims Other federal protection for consumers is provided by the CCACs program to inspect retailers weigh scales and the naturalgas and electricity meters used to measure home consumption Recognizing that many con sumers will wish to know more about who does what in consumer BOUCHER ALUMINUM NAME BRAND ALUMINUM SIDING MM Fuck is wimnwi COLOURS FREE ESTIMATES- 8778830 WESTERN GENERAL CONTRACTORS Custom Homes All PHASES Contracting siq AIRWAYS VACUUM SERVICE annum Air Duct Specialists Serving Town Country 8731884 Plant Centre Landscape Design Comtruclion BANNISTERS Rtpbct mM to cboon FREE ESTIMATES Call Marie PROFLOOR SYSTEMS WOOD FLOOR SANDING REFINISHING by THE PROFESSIONALS 8770690 I contracting ltd For all your commercial and residential construction needs 8788625 ACADIAN POOLS STREET GEORGETOWN 8733320 IF BUSY CAU WE KNOW SPAS BioGuard matters the federal and provin cial consumer departments have joined forces to produce a fact sheet by that title The sheet was produced as a special aid to people in Ontario in recognition of National Con sumer Week This nationwide celebration scheduled April promotes the theme Team up for a stronger marketplace The tip sheet is an example of the theme in action Consumers wishing to receive a free copy of Who does what in consumer matters should con tact the Consumer Information Centre at the Ministry of Con- and Commercial Rela tions 1st fl St Toron to Ontario M7A 2H6 Informa tion on a variety of other con sumer topics Is also available from the centre The telephone number in the Toronto area is 4163268555 or toll free 18002681142 for people from other parts of the province The TDD line is For information from the federal department Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada write to the 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