Bill 47 Protecting Rewards Points Act: Will Rewards Points Become More Rewarding For Ontario Consumers?

On October 20, 2016, Mr. Arthur Potts, the Liberal MPP for Beaches – East York, introduced a Private Member's Public Bill, Bill 47, Protecting Rewards Points Act (Consumer Protection Amendment), 2016 (the Bill). The Bill passed Second Reading on October 27, 2016 and has been referred to the Standing Committee.

The stated purpose of the Bill is to amend the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (Ontario) (the CPA) with respect to rewards points. If the Bill becomes law, the definition of "consumer agreement" will be amended to include agreements under which rewards points are provided (Loyalty Agreements), and a new section will be added to the CPA that prohibits Loyalty Agreements from allowing the expiry of rewards points, except on termination of the Loyalty Agreement. Lastly, if passed, the Bill will have retroactive effect requiring any rewards points that expired on or after October 1, 2016 to be credited back to the consumer.