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Option consommateurs

{{short description|Non-profit Canadian consumer organization}}

{{Primary sources|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox Organization

|name = Option consommateurs

|image = Option_consommateurs_Logo.jpg

|image_size = 250px

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|formation = 1983{{cite web|url=http://www.option-consommateurs.org/en/who/mission/ |title=Mission |publisher=Option consommateurs |access-date=2016-07-22}}

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|type = Consumer organization

|status = Active

|purpose = Consumer advocacy

|headquarters = Montreal, Quebec, Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.option-consommateurs.org/en/contact_us/ |title=Contact Us |publisher=Option consommateurs |access-date=2016-07-23}}

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|region_served = Canada

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|language = English, French

|leader_title = Executive director

|leader_name = Éliane Hamel{{cite web|url=http://www.option-consommateurs.org/en/who/team/ |title=Team |publisher=Option consommateurs |access-date=2016-07-22}}

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|website = {{URL|http://www.option-consommateurs.org/en/}}

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Option consommateurs is a non-profit consumer organization dedicated to promoting and defending the interests of Canadian consumers.[http://www.option-consommateurs.org/ Option consommateurs – Accueil]

The organization was founded in 1983 and is based in Montreal. Its focus areas are energy, agri-food, financial services, privacy, and commercial practices.

Through the Éconologis program, an energy efficiency program for low-income households run by the Quebec government's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources,{{cite web |url=http://www.efficaciteenergetique.gouv.qc.ca/mon-habitation/econologis/#.V5JxV_l96Um |title=Éconologis |publisher=Government of Quebec |access-date=2016-07-22 |archive-date=2016-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717014758/http://www.efficaciteenergetique.gouv.qc.ca/mon-habitation/econologis#.V5JxV_l96Um |url-status=dead }} Option consommateurs has offered free visits to low-income households in Montréal, wherein consumers are given personalized advice to improve their energy consumption, as well as new electronic thermostats.{{cite web |url=http://www.option-consommateurs.org/salle_presse/communiques/188/ |title=Éconologis - A free program to save energy |publisher=Option consommateurs |date=2008-09-10 |access-date=2016-07-22 |archive-date=2016-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816004925/http://www.option-consommateurs.org/salle_presse/communiques/188/ |url-status=dead }}

Objectives

To achieve its mission, Option consommateurs pursues four objectives:

  • Promoting a respectful vision of socioeconomic rights and interests of consumers;
  • Empowering consumers and promoting their independence by helping, informing and representing their interests to decision makers;
  • Helping to balance the power between companies and consumers, and;
  • Promoting equitable legal and contractual rules with regard to consumers and businesses, ensuring their implementation and their respect.

Activity

Option consommateurs is leading a class action lawsuit application filed in the Superior Court of Quebec on 22 March 2022 against several meat-processing companies, which are accused of conspiring to restrict competition in the production, supply, and sale of beef in Quebec. Sylvie De Bellefeuille, a lawyer with Option consommateurs and main plaintiff in the court filing, claims that since 2015 four companies worked to create a shortage in the beef market, thereby causing an upward movement in the price.{{cite web | title=Alleged 'beef cartel' faces class action lawsuit in Quebec | url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/alleged-beef-cartel-faces-class-action-lawsuit-in-quebec-1.5840883 | last=Lau | first=Rachel | date=30 March 2022 | publisher=CTV News | website=CTVNewsMontreal.ca}}{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-april-1-2022-1.6404929/friday-april-1-2022-full-transcript-1.6406138

| title=The Current Transcript for April 1, 2022 | website=cbc.ca }}

In March 2022, Option consommateurs, along with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Quebec Association of Industrial Electricity Consumers, called on the Quebec government to require the [http://www.regie-energie.qc.ca/en/ Régie de l'énergie du Québec] to freeze Hydro-Québec electricity rates.{{cite web | title=Groups call for freeze on Hydro-Quebec rates | date=14 March 2022 | author=The Canadian Press | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/groups-hydro-québec-electricity-rates-freeze-1.6384249

| publisher=CBC News}} This follows an announcement by the crown corporation that it would increase rates in 2022 and 2023 in alignment with the rate of inflation.{{cite web | url= https://www.ledevoir.com/economie/685857/front-commun-pour-un-gel-des-tarifs-d-hydro-quebec | title=Front commun pour un gel des tariffs d'Hydro-Québec | date=14 March 2022 | author=La Presse canadienne | publisher=Le Devoir}} Later, Option consommateurs said that even if the law is modified to limit the increase to 3%, it was launching a petition asking the government to restore the power of the Régie de l'énergie du Québec to set electricity rates annually.{{cite web | url= https://option-consommateurs.org/petition-option-consommateurs-demande-au-gouvernement-de-redonner-a-la-regie-de-lenergie-le-pouvoir-de-fixer-annuellement-les-tarifs-dhydro-quebec/| title=Option consommateurs lance une pétition pour demander au gouvernement de redonner à la Régie de l'énergie le pouvoir de fixer annuellement les tarifs d'Hydro-Québec | date=29 March 2022 | publisher=Option consommateurs}}

Funding

Option consommateurs has received funding from the Government of Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs for the years 2017 to 2023,{{cite web | title=2017-18 Project Summaries: Option consommateurs – Office of Consumer Affairs | date=22 August 2017

| url=https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/Oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca02960.html#s2

}}{{cite web | title=2018-19 Project Summaries: Option consommateurs – Office of Consumer Affairs | date= 11 May 2018

| url= https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/Oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca02979.html

}}{{cite web | title=2019-21 Project Summaries: Option consommateurs – Office of Consumer Affairs | date=4 June 2019 | url=https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/Oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca03042.html }}{{cite web | title=2021-23 Project Summaries: Option consommateurs – Office of Consumer Affairs: Criticism toward businesses through social media and digital platforms: An alternative pathway to justice for consumers | date= 10 June 2021 | url= https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/Oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca03114.html }}{{cite web | title=2021-23 Project Summaries: Option consommateurs – Office of Consumer Affairs: Planning for the unexpected: Consumer compensation measures for catastrophic events | date= 16 April 2003

| url= https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/Oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca03115.html

}} and from Centraide of Greater Montreal.{{cite web | url=https://www.centraide-mtl.org/en/directory-of-agencies-and-projects/option-consommateurs-acef-centre-de-montreal/

| title=Option consommateurs (ACEF Centre de Montreal) | publisher=Centraide Du Grand Montreal | date=2022}} It also receives support from Chambre de la sécurité financière, Chambre des notaires du Québec, and the Government of Québec.{{cite web| url=https://www.option-consommateurs.org/en/ | title=Option consommateurs – association devoted in advocating and promoting the rights and interests of consumers | date=6 June 2017 }}

References

{{Consumers International}}

Category:Political advocacy groups in Canada

Category:Consumer rights organizations

Category:1983 establishments in Quebec

{{Canada-org-stub}}