Consumer Protection Extended to the Internet

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Consumer Protection Extended to the Internet

Nova Scotian consumers will have more protection when making purchases on the Internet after changes are made to the Consumer Protection Act. Proposed amendments will give shoppers the right to basic information about sellers, contracts and the products and services available for purchase online.

"Nova Scotians are using the Internet more and more often to buy everything from jam jars to cars," said Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "There is still some perception of risk in making online purchases, so we're introducing specific regulations to provide better protection to cyber-consumers."

Under the proposed changes, consumers must be supplied with clear descriptions of products and services being purchased and who the online seller is. A contract that gives the details of the transaction will also be required. Amendments provide clear consumer cancellation rights that include credit card refunds if online merchants fail to meet certain standards.

Mr. MacIsaac said his department is following legislative guidelines created by federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions in consultation with industry and consumer stakeholders across Canada.

"All provinces and territories will be implementing legislation similar to ours," he said. "This act will help build consumer confidence and trust by ensuring the public that wherever they choose to shop they will receive a consistent level of protection."

Dr. James Savary is a professor of economics at York University and the lead volunteer for the Consumers' Association of Canada on electronic commerce issues.

"Creating cross-Canada norms for public policy encompassing consumer protections is a practical and effective solution to the worries that consumers have regarding shopping online," he said.

Statistics Canada estimates that in 2000, about 1.5 million Canadian households placed 9.1 million orders online. In Atlantic Canada, the value of Internet purchases increased 209 per cent to $68 million over 1999.

Pearleen Mofford of Dartmouth is an avid online shopper, using the Internet extensively for planning vacations and buying gifts. She supports the proposed legislation.

"I have and will continue to shop online," she said. "It's not always clear who you're dealing with or what their policies are. These additional protections make me that much more confident and assured that my purchases will go through as I expect."