Consumers

TELUS buying Mobilicity bad for consumers

May 172013

Wheels coming off minister’s plan for four wireless carriers.

from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC)

Consumers will lose more ground in the cellphone market unless the Industry Minister or the Competition Bureau stops the proposed acquisition of Mobilicity by TELUS, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) said today. Mobilicity, Canada’s second-largest “new entrant” wireless company, will be absorbed by TELUS, Canada’s second-largest cellphone company, if the agreement announced today is approved by the federal government and the Competition Bureau.

“Losing Mobilicity to TELUS means we are that much closer to the big three being the only three wireless companies in Canada,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel for PIAC.

“Consumers will face noticeably higher prices and less choice if only three major players control the market.”

TELUS must seek permission from the federal government to purchase Mobilicity, a “new entrant,” within five years from the last spectrum auction. The federal auction rules prohibit major cellphone companies like TELUS, Rogers and Bell Canada from buying new entrants or their spectrum until February 2014.

“We call once again for the Minister to clearly tell the major wireless companies that they cannot reduce consumer choice by buying up their competition” said Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association of Canada.

Lawford noted that wireless is already on the ropes, with WIND Mobile and Public Mobile, two other “new entrants,” now are also threatening to sell to the major competition: “Sadly, the wheels are coming off the Industry Minister’s four competitor model.”

Credit unions hit with $205 million tax increase

May 092013

Consumers

Omnibus bill provision increases credit union taxes to be 'more fair' to banks. Seriously.

from Credit Union Central

Canada's credit unions were disappointed to see the March 21 federal budget increases taxes for credit unions and caisses populaires in 2013 and in future years. A tax provision designed to help credit unions compete with big banks will be eliminated.

This Mother’s Day, moms aren’t ‘lovin’ it’

May 092013

Consumers

Mothers, bloggers, riled by new McDonald's marketing techniques directed at children.

from Corporate Accountability International

WASHINGTON DC, May 8, 2013 — This Mother's Day a broad coalition of moms from prominent bloggers to a bestselling author are puttin McDonald's marketing to children under intense scrutiny and calling on the burger giant's CEO, Don Thompson, to give moms a break.

Today, two weeks prior to the corporation's annual shareholders' meeting, moms took to the blogosphere, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and other social media sites to promote the #MomsNotLovinIt campaign and an accompanying graphic: a mother with her kids standing down a tidal wave of McDonald's promotions.

Earth Day tips for sustainable eating

Apr 192013

Consumers

Thirteen ways to choose foods for personal health as well as agricultural sustainability.

from Food Tank

Here are 13 ways to continue to celebrate Earth Day through the week and through the year. Sustainable food and agriculture systems can play a big role in preserving the environment by helping to improve soil health, protecting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. Earth Day is a great opportunity for eaters, farmers, and food businesses to make changes in their diets, shopping habits, and production practices that will promote sustainable, healthy food throughout the year.

Agriculture contributes to some 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. And the environmental damage brought on by the agricultural sector poses significant threats to the industry itself. But there’s a better way to produce — and eat — food.

Consumerist’s eight finalists for worst company in USA

Apr 042013

Consumers

Bank America, Wal-mart lead the list.

by SGNews staff

The Consumerist's annual "worst of" competition is down to the wire. Will Electronics Arts win an unprecedented second Golden Poo Award? Watch and see. Consumerist is a hip, somewhat irreverent online publication from Consumer Reports.

Consumerist.org

The fourth “R” is “repair”

Mar 102013

Consumers

Let's require sustainable product design as well as sustainable manufacturing processes.

by Ole Hendrickson

Repair seems to have become a lost art. Economists trivialize repair and maintenance, denigrating them as low-wage service sector activities, less economically important than resource extraction and manufacturing.

Environmentalists aren't much better. They ignore repair, speaking only of “Three R’s” (reduce, reuse, recycle) in the limited context of household waste such as containers, cardboard and kitchen scraps. This perpetuates the myth that reducing waste means a poorer lifestyle — buying less, getting your clothes from the second-hand store, and spending your time flattening tin cans.

In truth, the “Four R's” should be viewed as the economy’s main engine of jobs and productivity, and the environment’s saving grace.

Cell phone users complain of contracts, fees

Mar 072013

Consumers

Crowdsourced report puts the lived realities of Canadian cell phone users on display.

from Open Media

March 7, 2013 – A study released today by non-profit organization OpenMedia.ca shows a majority of Canadian respondents report being forced into accepting poor—often disrespectful—service. The group identifies the lack of choice in the cell phone market as the cause, pointing out that nearly 94 percent of the market is controlled by three large players: Bell, Telus, and Rogers.

The ploy to privatize pensions

Feb 282013

Consumers

RSPs and the new PRPP put pension savings at mercy of banks and brokers.

by Dave Coles

While most Canadians are appalled by the privately run US healthcare system we tolerate a pension system based on similar principles.

E-cigarettes challenge categories

Feb 172013

Consumers

Makers aver e-cigs are tobacco products, not medical devices.

Electronic cigarettes are still so new on most markets, many languages haven't yet decided what to call the users. Should they be called "vapers," as some American smokers dub their colleagues who smoke smokeless cigarettes?

The word makes sense. If smokers are named after smoke, then "vapers" should be named after the nicotine vapor that electronic cigarettes emit instead.

Making mobile phone costs more reasonable

Feb 112013

Consumers

Consumers group argues for "Wireless Code" with cost protection.

from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Consumer rights group the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) said today that there is now real hope that a comprehensive “Wireless Code” can solve many of consumers’ most daunting problems with their wireless phone service providers.

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