Consumer protection legislation in Canada

In Canada, consumer complaints are regulated by different levels of government, as well as non-government organizations. Finding the right place to direct your complaint is not always easy, but understanding your rights as a consumer is an important part of the complaint filing process.

Below you will find links to the websites of federal, provincial and territorial offices responsible for consumer affairs and the consumer protection legislation they enforce.

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list. Not all consumer protection legislation is included on this site. If you are unsure as to where you should direct your complaint, you may wish to consult your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office first for assistance.

Provincial and territorial consumer protection legislation

Many consumer complaints fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, including issues related to:

buying goods and services;

contracts;

the purchase, maintenance or repair of motor vehicles;

credit reporting agencies and the practices of collection agencies;

and more.

You can find consumer protection legislation for your province or territory on the websites of your office responsible for consumer affairs:

Federal consumer protection legislation

The Government of Canada has an important role in consumer awareness and protection.

Federal agencies and departments are responsible for enforcing legislation related to various issues, including:

consumer product safety;

food safety;

consumer product packaging and labelling;

anti-competitive practices, such as price fixing and misleading advertising;

privacy complaints;

and more.

Below you will find links to some of the most relevant areas where federal departments and agencies regulate consumer issues: