Harper Government Takes Action to Protect Consumers

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 29, 2012) - Today, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), announced additional action to protect consumers through sustainable funding for the National Do Not Call List.

"The National Do Not Call List is a successful program that many Canadians rely on to protect them from unwanted telemarketing calls," said Minister Paradis. "Today's announcement reinforces our government's commitment to protecting consumers."

Currently, the operation of the National Do Not Call List is fully funded by telemarketers, while investigation and enforcement costs are funded by the government. Provisions in the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, introduced Thursday in the House of Commons, would allow the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to recover the cost of Do Not Call List investigations and enforcement from the telemarketing industry. Amendments to the Telecommunications Act, subject to approval by Parliament, would permit the CRTC to establish fees for this purpose. The CRTC will hold consultations this summer on the fee structure, which will be implemented on April 1, 2013.

The National Do Not Call List, which was established in 2008, allows Canadian consumers to register free of charge to reduce the number of unsolicited telephone calls they receive. Telemarketers are prohibited from calling consumers who are registered on the list.