Government of Canada Takes Action to Ensure Fairness at the Pumps

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 3, 2011) - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, today announced that the proposed Fairness at the Pumps Act, which is designed to protect Canadian consumers from inaccurate measurement at gas pumps and other such measurement devices, was passed in the Senate.

"Canadians can now rest assured that when they spend their hard-earned dollars, they are getting a fair deal," said Minister Clement. "They deserve to get what they pay for—and no less. The Fairness at the Pumps Act is a strong deterrent to those who, either through malicious intent or carelessness, sell goods without accurate measurement."

The Act amends the Weights and Measures Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and modernizes those laws that govern trade measurement. The Act also aligns Canada's fines for inaccurate measurement with those of most industrialized countries in the world.

The Act gives the government the authority to set mandatory inspection periods for measurement devices like gas pumps and retail food scales. It also provides the legislative authority for over 350 non-government inspectors to perform these inspections. Enforcement authority will remain with government inspectors. The amendments, which will make retailers more accountable for the accuracy of their measuring devices, include increased fines for minor offences, a new fine for repeat offences and new penalties to ensure appropriate deterrence against measurement inaccuracy.

"Consumer confidence in the accuracy of measurement-based transactions has a direct bearing on the health of Canada's economy," added Minister Clement. "The Government of Canada is committed to consumer protection, and we take measurement accuracy seriously. The Fairness at the Pumps Act will give Canadians confidence that they are getting what they pay for when purchasing measured goods."

The Act now awaits royal assent to come into force as law.