Does the Consumer Protection Act, S.O. 2002 apply only to purchases over $50?

Question

Provincial legislation protects consumers in their specific dealings with vendors. The Ontario Consumer Protection Act, 2002, provides a general system of rights to consumers, who are defined as those who are purchasing goods or services for personal, family, or household purposes. Generally, the Act applies to purchases over $50 in value, when either the consumer or the seller was located in Ontario at the time of purchase.

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Is this website dated "Jun 28, 2012" outdated"? I see no such $50 minimum purchase requirement in the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A as at January 1 2024.

Answer 1

Many sections of the Act only apply when the potential payment obligation exceeds a prescribed amount.

21 (1) Sections 22 to 26 apply to future performance agreements if the consumer’s total potential payment obligation under the agreement, excluding the cost of borrowing, exceeds a prescribed amount.

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29 (1) Sections 30 to 36 apply in respect of personal development services or proposed personal development services for which ... the consumer’s total potential payment obligation, excluding cost of borrowing, exceeds a prescribed amount.

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37 Sections 38 to 40 apply to an internet agreement if the consumer’s total potential payment obligation under the agreement, excluding the cost of borrowing, exceeds a prescribed amount.

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41 (1) Sections 42 and 43 apply to direct agreements if the consumer’s total potential payment obligations under the agreement, excluding the cost of borrowing, exceeds a prescribed amount.

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44 Sections 45 to 47 apply to remote agreements if the consumer’s total potential payment obligation under the agreement, excluding the cost of borrowing, exceeds a prescribed amount.

The prescribed amount for each of those sections is set to $50 by Ontario Regulation 17/05.

23.1 The prescribed amount for the purpose of subsection 21 (1) of the Act is $50 if the future performance agreement mentioned in that subsection is not a gift card agreement to which sections 25.2 to 25.5 apply.

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27. The prescribed amount for the purpose of clause 29 (1) (b) of the Act is $50.

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31. The prescribed amount for the purpose of section 37 of the Act is $50.

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34. The prescribed amount for the purpose of subsection 41 (1) of the Act is $50.

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36. The prescribed amount for the purpose of section 44 of the Act is $50.