Page 10 - 13633 LBMAO Reporter EP1
P. 10
Government WATCH
ottawa report
Getting down to Business the House of Commons did not support either of these
CHBA positions. The only reference to housing made
brian linklater When Members of Parliament returned to the by the Standing Committee was with respect to on-
House of Commons on January 26th, there was plenty reserve housing issues. LBMAO members, therefore,
CRBSC Government to keep them occupied. High on their lists of priorities should not be surprised if the upcoming Budget
Relations Advisor is the fact that there will be a General Election this makes no reference to the importance of a vibrant
housing market to a healthy national economy.
year. While it cannot be later than mid-October,
Price Transparency Act
Ottawa is rife with self-proclaimed experts speculating December 9th last year was the day that the Price
that it could come as early as this spring. The actual Transparency Act was given First Reading in the
House of Commons. It was also the day that Industry
date of the election may be uncertain, but the need Minister James Moore, the Minister responsible for
this legislation, was in Toronto speaking at a Toys 'R'
to plan re-election strategies will likely be at the top Us store.
of the to-do list for most MPs in the A Press Release issued by the Industry Department
that day described the Price Transparency Act. It said
months ahead. that it “will help tackle the practice of geographic
price discrimination, one of the key contributors to
"The Retail There are, however, other matters the Canada - U.S. price gap. Today's announcement
which need the attention of MPs as well, provides the Commissioner of Competition with the
Council of including the upcoming Budget and the tools necessary to investigate alleged cases of price
discrimination and to publicly report situations where
Canada and Price Transparency Act. consumers are unfairly targeted with higher prices.
The Commissioner will be authorized to seek court
its 45,000 Standing Committee Ignores Building orders to compel the production of evidence to expose
discriminatory pricing practices that are not justified
merchants have Industry by higher costs in Canada and to publicly report to
As has been the practice of the consumers on the findings.”
been strong Standing Committee on Finance for
many years, it released its report on the While this proposed legislation was greeted
and consistent hearings it had conducted throughout sceptically from some sides, it received strong
endorsement from the Retail Council of Canada. It
advocates for the autumn with respect to the said, “The Retail Council of Canada and its 45,000
federal Budget for the Government's merchants have been strong and consistent advocates
addressing the fiscal year that begins April 1st. The for addressing the root causes of unjustified consumer
price discrepancies between Canada and the U.S.
root causes Standing Committee is composed We support today's announcement by Minister
solely of Members of Parliament, so its Moore and believe that the Price Transparency Act
of unjustified recommendations on what the Budget goes a long way in shedding light on geographical
price discrimination and on the true costs of doing
consumer price should contain are important. business in Canada. This bill is an important step
In its report, the Standing Committee toward enabling Canadian retailers to compete on a
discrepancies identified several organizations that level playing field and offer their consumers the best
possible prices.”
between Canada had identified various issues related
and the U.S." to the housing market. One of them
was the Canadian Home Builders'
Association (CHBA). It had advocated a
home renovation tax credit that would
combat the underground economy in
the home renovation industry. The CHBA had also
urged that the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program
be reinstated.
These two CHBA recommendations will be familiar
to many LBMAO members. They reflect positions that
the Canadian Retail Building Supply Council (CRBSC),
of which LBMAO is a member, had consistently
advocated. Sadly, the Standing Committee’s report to
10 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2015 www.lbmao.on.ca
ottawa report
Getting down to Business the House of Commons did not support either of these
CHBA positions. The only reference to housing made
brian linklater When Members of Parliament returned to the by the Standing Committee was with respect to on-
House of Commons on January 26th, there was plenty reserve housing issues. LBMAO members, therefore,
CRBSC Government to keep them occupied. High on their lists of priorities should not be surprised if the upcoming Budget
Relations Advisor is the fact that there will be a General Election this makes no reference to the importance of a vibrant
housing market to a healthy national economy.
year. While it cannot be later than mid-October,
Price Transparency Act
Ottawa is rife with self-proclaimed experts speculating December 9th last year was the day that the Price
that it could come as early as this spring. The actual Transparency Act was given First Reading in the
House of Commons. It was also the day that Industry
date of the election may be uncertain, but the need Minister James Moore, the Minister responsible for
this legislation, was in Toronto speaking at a Toys 'R'
to plan re-election strategies will likely be at the top Us store.
of the to-do list for most MPs in the A Press Release issued by the Industry Department
that day described the Price Transparency Act. It said
months ahead. that it “will help tackle the practice of geographic
price discrimination, one of the key contributors to
"The Retail There are, however, other matters the Canada - U.S. price gap. Today's announcement
which need the attention of MPs as well, provides the Commissioner of Competition with the
Council of including the upcoming Budget and the tools necessary to investigate alleged cases of price
discrimination and to publicly report situations where
Canada and Price Transparency Act. consumers are unfairly targeted with higher prices.
The Commissioner will be authorized to seek court
its 45,000 Standing Committee Ignores Building orders to compel the production of evidence to expose
discriminatory pricing practices that are not justified
merchants have Industry by higher costs in Canada and to publicly report to
As has been the practice of the consumers on the findings.”
been strong Standing Committee on Finance for
many years, it released its report on the While this proposed legislation was greeted
and consistent hearings it had conducted throughout sceptically from some sides, it received strong
endorsement from the Retail Council of Canada. It
advocates for the autumn with respect to the said, “The Retail Council of Canada and its 45,000
federal Budget for the Government's merchants have been strong and consistent advocates
addressing the fiscal year that begins April 1st. The for addressing the root causes of unjustified consumer
price discrepancies between Canada and the U.S.
root causes Standing Committee is composed We support today's announcement by Minister
solely of Members of Parliament, so its Moore and believe that the Price Transparency Act
of unjustified recommendations on what the Budget goes a long way in shedding light on geographical
price discrimination and on the true costs of doing
consumer price should contain are important. business in Canada. This bill is an important step
In its report, the Standing Committee toward enabling Canadian retailers to compete on a
discrepancies identified several organizations that level playing field and offer their consumers the best
possible prices.”
between Canada had identified various issues related
and the U.S." to the housing market. One of them
was the Canadian Home Builders'
Association (CHBA). It had advocated a
home renovation tax credit that would
combat the underground economy in
the home renovation industry. The CHBA had also
urged that the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program
be reinstated.
These two CHBA recommendations will be familiar
to many LBMAO members. They reflect positions that
the Canadian Retail Building Supply Council (CRBSC),
of which LBMAO is a member, had consistently
advocated. Sadly, the Standing Committee’s report to
10 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2015 www.lbmao.on.ca
