(Consumers' Association of Canada, Alberta)

Alberta Consumers' Association

Consumer Advocacy

The following groups have as one of their purposes advocating for consumers or educating consumers so that they can represent themselves in the market place.

These links leave this site.  Add this page to your Bookmarks or Favourites so that you can return.

Consumers' Association of Canada

The Consumers' Association of Canada, http://www.consumer.ca), an independent, non-profit volunteer organization, represents and informs consumers and advocates action on their behalf to improve the quality of life.

A major project has been improving consumer literacy with other partners including the Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL http://www.literacy.ca/),  a national non-profit organization representing literacy coalitions, organizations, and individuals from every province and territory.  They are supported in part by the National Literacy Secretariat (http://www.nald.ca/nls.htm).  The NLS works to promote literacy as an essential component for a learning society and to make Canada's social, economic and political life more accessible to people with weak literacy skills.

Related Publications include brochures about:

Rights and Responsibilities - http://www.consumer.ca/brochure/wisecon/consumer.htm
Contract terms and dispute resolution - http://www.consumer.ca/brochure/setting/setting.htm
Banking terminology - http://www.consumer.ca/brochure/litck/litck.htm

An interesting affiliated organization is CAC Manitoba (http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/crm/law/cac01.html).  While the site focuses on services available to Manitoba consumers, many provinces have similar organizations to help consumers.

Consumers’ International

Consumers’ International is a worldwide non-profit federation of consumer organisations, dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests. http://www.consumersinternational.org/

OneWorld

OneWorld is dedicated to promoting human rights and sustainable development by harnessing the democratic potential of the Internet.
http://www.oneworld.org/

Government Sites

Office of Consumer Affairs-Industry Canada

Consumer Connection: Office of Consumer Affairs-Industry Canada http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_consu/consaffairs/engdoc/oca.html

Consumer Affairs-Alberta

Alberta  Consumer Affairs ,  a Division of Government Services http://www.gov.ab.ca/ma/hca/consumer/index.htm

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an independent public authority in charge of regulating and supervising Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications. It serves the public interest and is governed by the Broadcasting Act of 1991 and the Telecommunications Act of 1993. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/toc.htm

Canadian Standards Association

Canadian Standards Association (CSA http://www.csa.ca) - CSA is a leader in the field of standards development and the application of these standards through product certification, management systems registration, and information products.

If you want to know who "they" are; visit this site.  This organization sets standards for many of the products and services that you use daily.  However, they provide an opportunity for consumer groups to participate in setting the standards.

Standards Council of Canada

The Standards Council of Canada is a federal Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective standardization. Located in Ottawa, the Standards Council has a 15-member governing Council and a staff of approximately 70. The organization reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry.  http://www.scc.ca/

Industry Advocates

Many of the sites for industry organizations contain information that is useful  and informative.  However, users must remember that the organizations exist for the benefit of their members, not consumers.

Alberta Food Processors Association

The ALBERTA FOOD PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION provides information on the web to help food processors.  http://www.afpa.com/

Alberta Medical Association

Even your friendly doctor needs an advocate.  The AMA advocates for doctors and provides a source of information concerning clinical practice and other concerns.  See what they say about waiting times and our collaborative effort "Partners in Care". URL: http://www.albertadoctors.org/resources/partners.html

Alberta Pharmaceutical Association

General information about the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association, its activities and benefits to members. Includes updates and important information for members, links to related sites and contacts within the organization.  www.altapharm.org

Canadian Bankers Association (CBA)

The spokesman for your friendly banker.  The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) is a professional industry association that provides its members - the chartered banks of Canada - with information, research, advocacy and operational support services. Established in 1891, the CBA is the main representative body for banks in Canada and today represents over 50 domestic and foreign-chartered banks in Canada.

There is useful information for consumers on this site but keep in mind the following disclaimer if you are relying on your bank for financial advice.

Information (which includes all facts, data and other information, collectively the "Information") in the pages on this Canadian Bankers Association ("CBA") Website is of a general nature, is subject to change without notice and is not intended to be relied on by readers as advice in any particular matter. All Information on this Website is protected by the CBA's copyright interests. http://www.cba.ca/eng/index.cfm

Ontario Securities Commission

The OSC will strive to maintain Ontario as an attractive place to invest by fostering a securities market where markets are efficient, open and fair so that viable businesses can raise financing and investors can have confidence in market integrity. http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/

Retail Council of Canada

The Retail Council of Canada is a member-funded, not-for-profit, national retail trade association. It is dedicated to reducing retailers’ costs of doing business, giving retailers the information and tools they need to move into the future, and representing retailers’ interests to government and the public with competence and integrity. http://www.retailcouncil.org/welcome/welcome.html
 

Other Sites

About.com Canadian Consumer Information Index

Consumer Assistance (http://canadaonline.miningco.com/msub10.htm?pid=2761&cob=home)
has links to sites that tell visitors how to avoid consumer problems, and where and how to find help with consumer complaints in Canada.

Calgary Community Pages

The Calgary community network has links to non profit (http://www.calcna.ab.ca/calgary/noprofit/index.html)
and special interest groups (http://calcna.ab.ca/sigs/index.html)

charityvillage

Charityvillage is a listing of Canadian charities.  These are the organizations that provide services for and advocate on behalf of consumers with many different needs. http://www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/nonpr.html

Child & Family Canada

Child & Family Canada (http://www.cfc-efc.ca/index.html) is presented through the cooperation of 46 non-profit organizations committed to the health and well-being of children and their families. The web site was initiated by the Canadian Child Care Federation with the support of Human Resources Development Canada, and Industry Canada.

Edmonton Community Network

The Edmonton Community Network has listings of Community Resources: Business and Professional, Computing, Consumer, Labour and Support Groups, Cultural, Educational, Engineering and Scientific, Environmental, Health, Hobbies and Recreation, Information Highway/Community Networking, Social Justice, Women's Organizations, Community Leagues, Libraries, People on the net. (http://www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/cr/)

Public Interest Advocacy Centre/ Le Centre Pour Defense de L'Interet Public

PIAC is a non-profit organization that provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services. http://www.piac.ca/

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