In an ongoing effort to modernize and streamline its consumer protection laws, the Ontario government introduced Bill 142, An Act to enact the Consumer Protection Act, 2023. If passed, this landmark legislation will repeal and replace the existing Consumer Protection Act, 2002 in its entirety, while also bringing substantial amendments to Ontario’s Consumer Reporting Act. The Act was officially introduced on October 23, 2023. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP presents an in-depth review of the proposed changes.
While the proposed amendments are numerous, several key aspects are of paramount significance to legal practitioners across the globe. It caps a period of growing recognition that consumer protection laws must evolve to meet the demands of the digital age and provide consumers with robust safeguards without stifling innovation.
The new Consumer Protection Act, 2023, if enacted, will likely herald substantial changes to consumer rights regulation, necessitating a comprehensive review of existing procedures and protocols by corporations and law firms alike.
To gain a greater understanding of the implications of Bill 142, legal professionals are advised to consider the breadth of its potential impact on consumer protection legislation and the broader commercial landscape in Ontario.