Law Commons^™

Consumer Credit In Canada: A Regulatory Patchwork, Micheline Gleixner

Dalhousie Law Journal

With unlimited access and consequent increased use of consumer credit in Canada and the federal government’s gradual abandonment of consumer credit regulation since Confederation, Provinces and Territories have progressively enacted provincial consumer protection legislation aiming to regulate the consumer credit industry and protect vulnerable consumers.

A review of current provincial and territorial legislative frameworks governing consumer credit reveals significant discrepancies and limitations. Given the expansion of the consumer credit industry and the inherent vulnerability of consumers, the article confirms the need and urgency of strengthening financial consumer protection and provides possible avenues of reform.

It is recommended that Parliament reassert …

A Consumer Protection Perspective On Regulation For Healthier Eating, Barbara Von Tigerstrom

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article explores the potential for a consumer protection perspective to complement public health approaches in designing and justifying laws that aim to promote healthier eating, such as food labelling regulations or restrictions on marketing and advertising. Consumer protection and public health are distinct perspectives, but they share the goal of protecting health and both accept the need for regulation to protect important interests. Consumer protection objectives could be used to defend public health measures that are challenged as infringing rights or restricting trade. Insights from consumer law and scholarship could also contribute to discussions about when regulatory intervention to …

Conceptions Of Borrowers And Lenders In The Canadian Payday Loan Regulatory Process: The Evidence From Manitoba And Nova Scotia, Freya Kodar

Dalhousie Law Journal

Commentators characterize thinking aboutpaydayloans as falling into two general perspectives. In one theory payday loans respond to market demand and are a sensible choice for a consumer with limited assets, credit, or other support when an unexpected financial need arises. The opposing theory holds that the loans are usurious and exploit vulnerable low-income borrowers. In 2007, amendments were passed exempting payday loans from the application of the criminal interest rate provisions of the Criminal Code if they were made by companies licensed by a province with a regulatory scheme. The author examines how federal and provincial lawmakers and administrative decision-makers …

Consumer Law Developments: A Note On The Impact Of Recent Federal Legislation In Nova Scotia, Hugh M. Kindred

Dalhousie Law Journal

Two years have passed since the previous comment on consumer law in this journal but surprisingly little provincial development has taken place. Consequently, this note will chiefly highlight the particular impact of changes in federal law for Nova Scotians. Provincial Activity In 1975 important additions were made to the Consumer Protection Act that were the subject of comment at the time.1 This impression of momentum created by the new department responsible for consumer affairs has disappointingly been lost. In the interim the minister has been raised to full cabinet rank and his responsibilities widened, but little reformatory legislation has been …

New Consumer Legislation In Nova Scotia, Hugh M. Kindred

Dalhousie Law Journal

While political observers were commenting upon the dullness of the 1975' spring session of the Legislature, something approaching a quiet revolution was taking place in Consumer Law. Changes were heralded in January 1975 when the amendments of late 19732 to the Consumer Services Act were proclaimed in force. The amendments expanded the functions of the Consumer Services Bureau and, most importantly, permitted for the first time the appointment of a minister of Cabinet rank to administer the Act. A few days before the Legislature met in March, Dr. Maynard McAskill was named to that position. The new minister wasted no …