The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority wants to inform newcomers to Canada on their buying rights. (Ronald Quaroni/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Buying Power

New Canadians receive tips on consumer rights

Nov 28, 2019 | 12:33 PM

A report from the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) is focused on helping new Canadians traverse the Saskatchewan marketplace.

Language skills and cultural differences can be roadblocks to newcomers who participate in everyday purchases that residents may take for granted.

“All these particular places where they would go, have a particular set of vocabulary that would go with that. It is the acquisition of vocabulary over time that allows them to better and be more fluent English language speakers and listeners,” Adult Literacy Coordinator for The Prince Albert Literacy Network, Samantha Kelly told paNOW.

She explained taking time to help newcomers can clear up confusion.

“Slow down your language, use simple phrases and words. Avoid using idioms, words that come together and don’t make any sense to them because they are too literal,” Kelly explained.

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Part of the FCAA report encouraged newcomers to be wary about door-to-door sales. A sales person must have a direct sellers licence and if the deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

Newcomers are encouraged to use gift cards quickly. Retailers are not likely to provide any compensation on purchased gift cards if they go out of business.

If a business informs a customer about a return policy before or at the time of purchase, they must honour it. However, retailers are not required to provide a return or exchange policy.

Saskatchewan residents purchasing a vehicle should also check a few things. The vehicle should be registered in Saskatchewan and the buyer should make sure it doesn’t have any existing debt.

Manager of Settlement Services for the Prince Albert YWCA, Amanda Davison said the isolation newcomers face can also pose a challenge. Without the language skills needed to interact and ask questions with others, sometimes their rights as consumers aren’t learned.

She added the YWCA works hard at giving newcomers the tools they’ll need to be successful and encouraged them to stop by if they need help.

“We try and make it an open and welcome environment. It’s a safe place for our clients,” Davison said.

Since April 2019, Prince Albert has welcomed 120 government-assisted refugees.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni