Canada has recently taken steps to standardize the rules protecting consumers who engage in internet transactions. Some of these changes may have a substantial impact on the operations of businesses with publicly available interactive websites.
The two major developments concern the endorsement of a common code of conduct for e-commerce consumer protection by the federal and provincial governments and the soon to be implemented new consumer protection legislation and regulations in Ontario.
Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce
On January 16, 2004, federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for consumer affairs met in Winnipeg. The ministers endorsed the Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce ("Code"). The Code, developed cooperatively with business groups, consumer groups and governments through a process that began in 1999, establishes benchmarks for good business practices for merchants
