Almost 16,000 people have complained about pandemic price gouging since Premier Doug Ford launched Ontario’s anti-profiteering push three weeks ago.

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services said that as of Tuesday it had received 15,957 inquiries and complaints related to rising prices due to COVID-19.

Of those, 14,977 came through an online portal Ford unveiled on March 28.

“Consumer Protection Ontario is reviewing these responses/complaints and is authorized to action complaints to local law enforcement where appropriate, where fines may be laid,” the ministry said in a written statement to the Star on Thursday.

The government had no details on whether any individual or business had actually been charged or fined. Nor did the ministry have any information on the types of products or services cited in the complaints.

“We hope to provide additional information in the days ahead,” the statement said. “The ministry does not discuss next steps to maintain the integrity of law enforcement processes.”

But one person who filed a complaint said he saw a 10-pack of 3M-brand N95 respirator masks being sold in a Toronto store for $110 on April 4. He said he purchased the same item for $39.39 at the same shop in February.

“I told them they can keep them because they’re gouging,” said the man, who requested his name and that of the shop not be used because he had formally complained to the authorities.

“The clerk said that their dealer was charging them $100 a box and they were only making $10 a box,” he said.

On March 27, a “furious” Ford said he was triggered to act after reports that Toronto gourmet grocery shop Pusateri’s Fine Foods was charging $29.99 for Lysol disinfectant wipes, which usually sell for a fraction of that price.

“We’re going to come after you hard, and I’m going to protect the people of this province,” the premier said at the time. “That’s disgusting, absolutely disgusting.”

After seeing a viral photo of the high-priced wipes, Ford said he would be “ bringing this to cabinet and we’re going to put an order that it is going to be illegal for price gouging.”

Under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, it is illegal for businesses and individuals to be “fixing prices (or) charging unconscionable prices for necessary goods, services and resources.”

The act has stiff fines, ranging from $750 to $100,000 and a year in jail for individuals, $500,000 and incarceration for company directors or officers, and $10 million for corporations.

Necessary goods include masks and gloves used as personal protective equipment, non-prescription medications for the treatment of coronavirus symptoms, disinfecting agents intended for cleaning, and personal hygiene products, like soap and toilet paper.

Last month, Pusateri’s president and CEO Frank Luchetta insisted in a statement that his company’s pricing on the wipes was a mistake.

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“While no excuse, our stores are facing immense pressure on all levels of operation. As a result of this mounting pressure, critical elements were overlooked including the incorrect pricing of the product,” said Luchetta.

“This was our mistake, our error, our oversight and we apologize to everyone impacted.”

Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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