By Sarah Klein
Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux outlines new regulations for auto dealers to better protect consumers on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (CHRISD.CA)
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is putting new rules in place to protect consumers in the market for purchasing a new vehicle.
The new regulations will protect against false advertising and misleading pricing practices.
“Our members want to ensure there is a level playing field for both consumers and for dealers,” said Steve Chipman, chair of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association. “We feel the new legislation will improve transparency and has the full support of our membership.”
Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux said current practices, such as omitting additional fees, charges, or conditions from prices, can be misleading or confusing for consumers.
In accordance with the new legislation, a motor vehicle dealer must:
- Ensure that advertisements indicate the total price of a vehicle, including all additional charges, except for the retail sales tax and the federal goods and services tax;
- Ensure that an advertisement about a used late-model vehicle indicates that it is a used vehicle;
- Not engage in false advertising or provide false information about a vehicle;
- Only advertise a vehicle currently in the dealer’s inventory;
- Indicate the time period applicable to limited time offers;
- Indicate the number of vehicles available at a specified price if the number of vehicles is limited;
- Not set out payment information in an advertisement more prominently than the total price; and
- Disclose in the advertisement if the vehicle was ever declared salvage or used as a short-term rental or emergency vehicle.
