Ottawa, February 18, 2021 - Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette condemns the crass electioneering tactics used by conservative Senators on Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Weights and Measures Act or, as the short title, Fairness at the Pumps Act.
“The short title of this bill is pure electioneering rhetoric that bears no relation to the contents of the Bill. This is just another spin tactic, “said Senator Hervieux-Payette.”They want to impress voters by giving the impression that gasoline retailers cheat Canadian consumers and that the government will intervene on their behalf. However, Measurement Canada recognizes that measures of gas pumps are among the most accurate! ”
Testifying at the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, l’Association québécoise des indépendants du pétrole and the Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association both condemned how this bill discredits retailers.
“Therefore, I suggested we call this bill Act on fairness of weights and measures. It is clear and objective. But all conservative Senators voted against it,” regretted Senator Hervieux-Payette.
Witnesses at the Committee asked that there be no regulatory duplication between the federal and provincial governments because legislation on measurement devices already exists in Quebec. “But the Conservatives, in their great wisdom as “good” financial managers have not wanted to take into account the situation of the provinces and territories. This will end up being another example of unnecessary increases in transaction costs for SMEs in Quebec,” added Senator Hervieux-Payette.
Finally, Bill C-14 will discriminate against small and medium enterprises (SMEs). According to Senator Pierrette Ringuette, “the cost of implementing this law is estimated at 90 million. It is too heavy a burden for independent retailers.”
