In Ontario, it was previously prohibited for legal documents to be virtually commissioned, or notarized online. At the end of 2019, the Ontario Government asked for consultation on the allowance of both virtual commissioning, and online notarization. In January of 2020, the Province announced changes to the Notaries Act, specifically legalizing both changes to Ontario’s legal system. In the announcement, Ontario’s Attorney General Doug Downey quoted the Consumer Choice Center’s David Clement. Specifically, he quoted the following:

“Allowing for virtual commissioning and notarizing is a positive step for those using legal services. Permitting virtual commissioning and notarizing ultimately makes the system more consumer friendly and more responsive. From a consumer standpoint, this is a welcomed change.”

David Clement, North American Affairs Manager, Consumer Choice Center

The Consumer Choice Center is pleased with Ontario’s commitment to making commissioning and notarization more consumer friendly. 

The Issue

In 2017, the Ontario Liberal government proposed to slowly roll out government owned, and government run, cannabis stores. Under that plan there would be no private retail at all for cannabis in Ontario, making the market highly regulated and unfairly funded by citizens.

The CCC’s Response

In the 2018 general election, the Liberals were swept from power. The Consumer Choice Center took this opportunity to showcase to the new Conservative government the issues and risks for consumers if the government were to only allow for government owned cannabis retail outlets. David Clement, our North America Manager, wrote an op-ed in the Globe and Mail, and did several media appearances arguing that the government to change course, and go with a private, uncapped, retail market for cannabis sales.

The Impact

As a result, David Clement was invited by the government to testify on the regulations in front of the legislatures’ social committee. In that testimony, he passionately advocated for private uncapped retail and its benefits for consumers.

As a result, David Clement was invited by the government to testify on the regulations in front of the legislatures’ social committee. In that testimony, he passionately advocated for private uncapped retail and its benefits for consumers.

The Attorney General of Ontario then announced on the floor of the legislature that the province would be moving forward with a private, uncapped, retail market for cannabis. The Attorney General quoted our North America Affairs Manager, David Clement, and the work of the Consumer Choice Center, in the justification for going with the uncapped model.

There were a few hiccups, and the Government backtracked a bit during this process. They started with a lottery process to give out licenses for retail stores. We were once again doing media appearances asking for the government to keep their word, and move forward with their original plan. We were published in the Globe and Mail saying the government should end the lottery system.

Finally, at the end of 2019, the government announced that as of January 1, 2020, they would be moving forward with an uncapped private system.

To this day, the Consumer Choice Center remains vigilant of the government and the Ontario Province in order to protect and defend consumers’ choice and the free market.

As a result, David Clement was invited by the government to testify on the regulations in front of the legislatures’ social committee. In that testimony, he passionately advocated for private uncapped retail and its benefits for consumers.

The Attorney General of Ontario then announced on the floor of the legislature, that the province would be moving forward with a private, uncapped, retail market for cannabis. The Attorney General quoted our North America Affairs Manager, David Clement, and the work of the Consumer Choice Center, in the justification for going with the uncapped model.

There were a few hiccups, and the Government backtracked a bit during this process. They started with a lottery process to give out licenses for retail stores. We were once again doing media appearances asking for the government to keep their word, and move forward with their original plan. We were published at the Globe and Mail saying the government should end the lottery system.

Finally, at the end of 2019, the government announced that as of January 1, 2020, they would be moving forward with an uncapped private system.

To this day, the Consumer Choice Center remains vigilant of the government and the Ontario Province in order to protect and defend consumers’ choice and the free market.

The Issue On Aug. 13, Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fideli announced the government’s plan for cannabis legalization. The keystone of the Progressive Conservatives’ policy was a reversal of the public retail monopoly model proposed by the former Liberal government, to instead opt for private retail provincewide. Along with the private retail announcement, the government stated that municipalities […]

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