Premier Ford Announces New Legislation Aimed At Price-Gougers

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Premier Doug Ford announced new penalties to combat price gouging on items needed for people in Ontario to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.

Individual offenders can face a ticket of $750, or, if summoned to court and convicted, could face a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and one year in jail. If convicted, a company director or officer could face a fine of up to $500,000 and up to a year in jail, and a corporation could face a fine of up to $10 million.

“Starting today, we are taking serious steps to ensure our frontline workers, our families and our most vulnerable citizens have what they need to stay safe,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We are putting an end to those trying to profit off of one of the darkest periods in our province’s history. If you’re engaging in price gouging on necessary goods, we are going to slap you with a ticket or you could face fines or jail time.”

Necessary goods include:

• Masks and gloves used as personal protective equipment in relation to infections
• Non-prescription medications for the treatment of the symptoms of the coronavirus
• Disinfecting agents intended for cleaning and disinfecting objects or humans
• Personal hygiene products, including soap products and paper products

Consumers can report an individual who is price gouging by filing a complaint at 1-800-889-9768 between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or by filing a report online.