Consumer shock present and impending

OTTAWA, April 2, 2013 /CNW/ - In his recently tabled Budget the Finance  Minister, Mr.Flaherty, dropped tariffs on Baby Clothes and Hockey equipment lording a possible annual saving for Consumers of $76 million.  Any warm fuzzy feeling derived from  that action was quickly dispelled by his immediately loading an additional  $330 million dollars in increases to other tariffs.  Consumers view these actions as further incentives to seek protection by buying outside Canada.  During the past six years the Consumers' Association of Canada has  met with  most of the large retailers in Canada and a few of the wholesalers and  Manufacturers.  Literally hundreds of items subject to protective unfair tariffs were mentioned. Consumers , Manufacturers and Retailers are left confused as to why The Minister of Finance has not addressed this issue on a much broader face.  Perhaps if Consumers had a Minister in Cabinet  speaking for them , it may help.

The Sword of Damocles dangling above the heads of  Consumers who use Credit Cards is tethered by a different thread.  Those of us who are aware of the impending decision of the Competition Bureau Tribunal  on Surcharging and Honour All Cards have been awaiting the results for far too long.  Those Consumers who have been blissfully unaware of the implications may be in for a severe shock when they awake to find any payment they make with a credit card will be surcharged.  In addition the some 6 billion dollars now being born by consumers within the price of goods set by retailers will be double dipped by those same retailers.

Australia has just taken action to quit credit card surcharging after a nightmare decade of abuse.  So what Australia has experienced and rejected we in Canada  are about to adopt. 

The Consumers' Association of Canada calls on the Government of Canada to do whatever it takes to make public this Competition Bureau Tribunal report . 

SOURCE: Consumers' Association of Canada

Bruce Cran 604 418 8359