Canada: Consumer Law

Canada's language laws create distinct obligations for businesses operating across the country, with Quebec's Charter of the French Language imposing comprehensive requirements on commercial operations, workplace communications, and consumer interactions.

Starting October 5, 2026, Quebec will implement a new legal warranty of good working order for household appliances and electronic devices, requiring merchants and manufacturers to adapt their practices from price display to claims handling. What obligations will businesses face under Bill 29's amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, and how can they prepare for compliance before the deadline?

Health Canada has introduced mandatory performance standards for consumer products containing button/coin batteries, requiring immediate compliance from manufacturers, importers, advertisers, and sellers. Companies must now certify that their products, packaging, and labelling meet specified safety criteria or equivalent standards to mitigate ingestion hazards. This regulatory update offers a more flexible, outcomes-based approach compared to the prescriptive requirements of Reese's Law in the United States

Quebec's Bill 24 introduces sweeping restrictions on using AI-generated content, synthetic voices, and digitally modified spokespersons in consumer advertising without explicit consent.

British Columbia is implementing sweeping amendments to its Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act on August 1, 2026, fundamentally changing how businesses handle subscription renewals, contract disclosures, and unilateral amendments. These new rules will require e-commerce platforms and subscription services to provide advance renewal notices, limit their ability to modify terms unilaterally, and ensure transparent cancellation and refund policies are disclosed upfront.

Since 2019, Siskinds LLP has represented the plaintiffs in proposed JUUL class actions across Canada, alleging that the e-cigarette devices are hazardous products but were falsely marketed as a desirable, safe and healthier alternative to smoking. These Canadian lawsuits allege the defendants failed to properly inform Canadians, especially children, adolescents and young adults, of the dangers associated with the use of JUUL products.

On June 27, 2026, the Department of Finance published the proposed Consumer-Driven Banking Regulations(the “Regulations”) under the Consumer Driven Banking Act (the “Act”). Together with the Act, the Regulations introduce a framework, to be overseen by the Bank of Canada (the “Bank”), that enables Canadian individuals and businesses to share their financial data with accredited service providers of their choice.

Canada's federal government has finalized amendments to the Medical Devices Regulations, introducing significant changes to medical device establishment licensing requirements. These modernized regulations eliminate the need for foreign distributors to hold separate licenses when selling through licensed Canadian importers, mandate supplier list disclosure to Health Canada, and establish explicit documentation requirements for safety-management procedures.

Osler’s national Privacy and Data Management team offers insights into major Canadian privacy legislative reform in The Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act (Bill C-36): key obligations and enforcement overview.