AUGUST 14, 2020

NDP DISAPPOINTED LIBERALS BLOCKED MOTION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES FROM INTERNET GIANT AMAZON

OTTAWA – Today in the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, NDP MP Brian Masse (Windsor West), along with Committee Members from the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois, supported a motion to protect consumers and small businesses from potential anti-competitive behaviour on the part of amazon.ca.

“Amazon has made billions of dollars over the course of this COVID-19 pandemic while small businesses in our communities have been struggling to keep their doors opened.  While our local businesses were forced closed, and Canadians turned to online shopping, Amazon prices spiked and desperately Canadians purchased them,” stated Masse.  “Now, even the Competition Bureau is struggling to see if this led to anti-competitive behavior.”

The committee was presented with a motion that read:

That, pursuant to standing order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology invite representatives from the Competition Bureau as well as Amazon.ca, to appear regarding reports of anti-competitive behaviour on the part of Amazon.

Masse was prepared to enhance the motion with the following amendment:

That, pursuant to standing order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology invite representatives from the Competition Bureau, Amazon.ca, third party sellers on the amazon market place or those formerly on it and consumer organizations to appear regarding reports of anti-competitive behaviour on the part of Amazon.

It was voted down by the Liberals.

“Once again we see who the Liberals are really working for – their corporate friends – and it is not the Canadians out of work and struggling to make ends meet.  It is not the small businesses who have had to close their doors after years in business,” said Masse.  “In lieu of getting real answers right from Amazon, I look forward to hearing what the Competition Bureau’s assessment of this situation is.”

The Liberals awarded amazon.ca the contract at the beginning of this pandemic to manage distribution of all medical equipment during the pandemic and were already a step ahead of small businesses when this pandemic began.  Canadian consumers and small businesses deserve answers from Amazon directly.

Video of the Industry Committee Exchange is attached.

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For further Information: Melanie Namespetra [email protected] or 613-355-4120