Significant progress in consumer rights

While we don't hesitate to criticize the work of elected officials when consumer rights are threatened, we feel it's important to highlight the government's commitment, and more specifically that of Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, to defending consumer rights with Bill 72.

All the more so since this bill joins a series of other laws that have strengthened consumer protection in recent years.

Just last year, Bill 29 introduced a host of measures to improve the durability and reparability of appliances in Quebec. Not to mention the Act to improve access to justice by enhancing the availability of free or low-cost legal services, passed in 2022, which authorizes NPOs such as Option consommateurs to offer legal services to the public. Already, thanks to this law, we've been able to win cases for many consumers by offering them free legal services.

Of course, Quebec consumers are not out of the woods yet. The domination of digital platforms, the arrival of AI in the commercial sphere and rigged interfaces are all issues that will have to be addressed sooner rather than later by Quebec consumer law. Adequate funding for the public bodies responsible for enforcing the laws that protect the public also remains essential to ensure their effectiveness.
However, we cannot overlook the significant progress in Quebec consumer law achieved under the impetus of Minister Jolin-Barrette. This proactive approach to access to justice and the defense of consumer rights has once again made Quebec a leader in consumer protection in North America.