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Complaint and Advocacy

When you feel that you have been treated unfairly, there may be a service that can help you to resolve your complaint. Each of the following services deals with a specific type of situation. Read the descriptions and visit the websites to see if the service is appropriate for you.


CPLEA Suggested Resources

Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.

Canada/Federal

The Commissioners office assists Canadians in resolving issues about their television service providers. If a Canadian cannot resolve a complaint with a communications service provider - regardless if it is a television service provider, Internet service provider, wireless service provider or telephone service provider - the CCTS will become the single point of contact for obtaining a resolution. All licensed television service providers will hae to become members of the CCTS by Septermber 1, 2017.

Related legal topic(s): Communications and media, Consumer protection and fraud, Contracts, Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

The CCTS is an independent organization dedicated to resolving consumer and small business complaints about retail telecommunications services, including wireless, local and long distance telephone, and internet access services. Customers who cannot resolve their complaints about issues like billing, contract terms, or service delivery directly with their provider may file a complaint with CCTS for a fair, impartial and independent review. The CCTS does not accept complaints about prices or about misleading advertisements.

Related legal topic(s): Communications and media

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) is the national coordinating body of the Canada’s 14 law societies mandated to regulate Canada’s 95,000 lawyers and Quebec’s 3,500 notaries.  Each law society governs the legal profession within their respective province or territory and, as such, is reponsible for dealing with complaints from the public about the profession. The Federation is the voice of Canada’s law societies on a wide range of issues critical to the protection of the public and the rule of law, including solicitor-client privilege, the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary, and the role of the legal profession in the administration of justice.

Related legal topic(s): Lawyers, Legal process

The Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of Aboriginal Women and is currently involved in many activities for the benefit of Alberta Aboriginal Women. The IAAW works to achieve social justice for Aboriginal women by: Researching and developing resource materials; Identifying opportunities to participate in policy development and decision making with the municipal, provincial, federal governments; and Challenging and eradicating discrimination of Aboriginal women.

Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Diversity

The National Do Not Call List (DNCL) gives consumers a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls. If you are a consumer you can choose to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive by registering your residential, wireless, fax or VoIP telephone number on the National DNCL. You can also file a complaint about telemarketing calls. Call toll-free 1-866-580-DNCL (1-866-580-3625)

Related legal topic(s): Communications and media, Consumer protection and fraud, Privacy

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students is a consumer organization, with a mandate to encourage the self-empowerment of post-secondary students with disabilities. NEADS advocates for increased accessibility at all levels so that disabled students may gain equal access to college or university education, which is their right. The Association provides information on services and programs for students with disabilities nationwide, publishes a regular newsletter, and conducts research on issues of importance to its members.
Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Disabilities

The Commissioner is an advocate for the privacy rights of Canadians and her powers include: Investigating complaints, conducting audits and pursuing court action under two federal laws - Privacy Act and Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA); Publicly reporting on the personal information-handling practices of public and private sector organizations; Supporting, undertaking and publishing research into privacy issues; and Promoting public awareness and understanding of privacy issues.

Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Freedom of information, Privacy

The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) is an independent organization that investigates customer complaints against financial services providers, including banks and other deposit-taking organizations, investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and mutual fund companies. OBSI resolves disputes between participating banking services and investment firms and their customers if they can’t solve them on their own.

Related legal topic(s): Business, Consumer protection and fraud, Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

PovNet is an internet site for advocates, people on welfare, and community groups and individuals involved in anti-poverty work. It provides up-to-date information about welfare and housing laws and resources in British Columbia and Canada. PovNet is a national site with training and resources available for intermediaries across the country.

Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Poverty

The PSLRB is an independent quasi-judicial statutory tribunal that is responsible for administering the collective bargaining and grievance adjudication systems in the federal public service and in Parliament.

Related legal topic(s): Federal government departments, Mediation and alternative dispute resolution, Unions

The Institute’s mission is to contribute to the public, the legal profession, and the Supreme Court of Canada by increasing the effectiveness and quality of advocacy before the Court.The principal activity of the Institute is to provide free, non-partisan advocacy advice to a party’s lawyer who is scheduled to appear in an appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada.The Institute is a registered charity and is intended as a public service.

Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Courts and court judgments, Judges

International

The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international, multi-generational, feminist, creative, future-orientated membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights. AWID’s work is structured through multi-year programs known as Strategic Initiatives. Each strategic initiative includes a range of activities from membership consultations and surveys, primary research and dialogues with policy makers (including targeted advocacy) to capacity building institutes, regional networking and information dissemination. In addition, AWID works to ensure that the specific priorities and voices of young women are strongly represented in all our initiatives.

Related legal topic(s): Advocacy, Human rights, International law

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