Ban some door-to-door sales, Toronto city council asks province
Vote follows introduction of private member's bill at Queen's Park
Toronto city council voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion Wednesday afternoon to ask the province to ban door-to-door sales of some products and services.
The motion, moved by Coun. Ana Bailao and seconded by Coun. Frances Nunziata, passed by a vote of 40-2.
Council is asking the Ontario government to outlaw "the practice of door-to-door sales relating to the sale and/or lease of water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, water filtration systems, HVAC equipment, and other related services and products sold by the home services sector."
The motion calls on the province to enact the ban before the Legislature rises for its summer recess.
Mississauga city council also approved a motion late last month asking the province for a similar ban.
Bailao moved the motion just two days after Yvan Baker, Liberal MPP for Etobicoke Centre, introduced a private-member's bill to ban door-to-door sales of contracts for water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners.
The legislation — and the municipal motions — were prompted in part by a provincial investigation into a door-to-door sales firm called Ontario Energy Group that resulted in 142 Consumer Protection Act charges.
"It's absolutely reprehensible to me that there are people who make a living off preying on people who are vulnerable. Seniors are misled, those with serious health issues are taken advantage of, many others are duped into contracts with no way out," Baker told reporters at Queen's Park on Monday.
Under the bill, the consumer would be entitled to any money paid under the contract and the return or replacement of any product taken under the contract.
Finally, if consumers do not receive payment, they have the option of taking their cases to court, and if successful, would double the amount owed plus legal fees.
Individual sellers could face fines ranging from $500 for a first offence, $1,000 for a second offence, to $2,000 for a third and subsequent offences.
Businesses could face fines of $5,000 for a first offence, $10,000 for a second offence, to $25,000 for a third and subsequent offences.
The bill will go to second reading in June. If it passes second reading, it would go to committee. From there, it will return back to the legislature for third reading.