Class Action Trends In Quebec

With the growing perils of data breaches and the increase in consumer activism, privacy, consumer and product liability class actions remain a reality for businesses in Quebec. As the class action landscape continues to evolve, so do the risks.

In this article, we discuss recent trends in privacy, consumer and product liability class actions in Quebec to keep businesses informed of the latest developments.

1. Rise in Consumer Class Actions Based on Alleged False or Misleading Representations

We have seen a substantial rise in consumer class actions under the Quebec Consumer Protection Act (CPA) in which plaintiffs claim that a defendant made false or misleading representations respecting important characteristics of a product or service it provides. These include whether chicken sandwiches sold in fast-food outlets are made of chicken, whether a drink that is said to contain ginger is actually made with ginger or whether reusable bags sold in grocery stores