Members of Parliament on Wednesday voted down an NDP motion that sought unanimous consent to urge a ban on algorithmic pricing.
NDP Parliamentary leader Don Davies introduced the motion in the House of Commons after question period, asking MPs to agree that “the government should ban surveillance pricing, where personal data is used by corporations to increase the prices consumers pay both in-store and online.”
Multiple “no’s” were heard in the chamber, prompting Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia to declare Davies had not won unanimous consent.
The NDP motion marked the party’s first major piece of policy messaging in Parliament since electing Avi Lewis as its new leader last month. Lewis does not have a seat in the House of Commons and could not put forward such a measure himself.
Lewis promised a motion would be introduced this week during a press conference Monday where he urged the federal government to ban algorithmic pricing, also known as surveillance or dynamic pricing.
The practice involves companies using artificial intelligence and data to set different prices for consumers depending on whatever attributes they set up.
This could be based on anything from the income levels and demographic details of the prospective customer to the demand for the good or service.
“Big Tech is teaming up with retailers, including grocery giants, to spy on Canadians and gouge them even more,” Lewis said on Monday.
“This is unfair. It’s a ripoff. And it’s downright creepy. The federal government must use all tools at its disposal to stop the practice dead in its tracks.”
Unanimous consent motions are non-binding but can help put a spotlight on a topic or put pressure on the government to bring forward legislation that addresses issues raised by individual MPs or parties.
Just one MP objecting would defeat such a motion.
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AI Minister Evan Solomon told reporters Wednesday that the Liberals are “looking into” algorithmic pricing to ensure there’s “transparency for Canadians.”
Yet he said the Competition Bureau, not his department, would be taking the lead on any kind of regulation and would not say what action the government might take.
“That’s not my department, so I’m not going to answer for my administrators,” he said while heading into the Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa.
“We do want to make sure that there’s fair pricing. This is why we’re supporting transparency. We also support making sure that Canadians get the right price, so they’re not paying undue prices that are unfair, so we’re going to look at that.”
Last year, the Competition Bureau investigated the possible use of artificial intelligence-driven algorithmic pricing in Canadian real estate rental markets.
In November, it said that while it hasn’t found evidence that using computer software to recommend rent prices reaches the level of anti-competitive behaviour, it remains concerned about possible issues.
A January report on the Competition Bureau’s public consultation on algorithmic pricing found individuals who provided feedback mostly raised concerns about the practice. The most common words used in those responses included unfairness, discrimination, predatory pricing and profiteering.
Businesses and other stakeholders who responded noted that dynamic pricing created “market efficiencies,” but also raised concerns about potential anti-competitive behaviour and a lack of transparency around the data being used.
Most Canadians want the government to ban or regulate algorithmic pricing, recent polling suggests — with half of respondents saying the practice is unfair because it can result in people paying different prices for the same product.
Around half (52 per cent) of those polled by Abacus Data said the practice should be banned and 31 per cent said it should be allowed but more strictly regulated.
— with files from Global’s Uday Rana
James Stephenson needs to take his meds!
The nays must have been paid off by Weston.
I will never vote NDP, Liberal again. These two parties have caused division, poverty, homelessness, death in ERS , stagnant GDP. They have fielded leaders who have corrupted the country for a few pieces of silver and their little kingdoms. They have disregarded the sanctity and equality that is democracy. They have bastardized every financial system we have for their gain. ALL THREE MAJOR PARTIES are guilty of treason and blackmail. Fraud and laundering money. They are guilty of the fascism that sweeps this country under the rug and smashes it to third world status, all so a few can get very very rich and corrupt. Time to make the PEOPLE’S voice heard!
Can’t say I’m surprised. Both the liberals and conservatives are focused on ensuring our industry oligopolies can maximize criminal pricing and scam is to the grave. Even if you don’t agree with them, we need to vote NDP just to shake things up and remind our politicians that they are supposed to be working for us.
The first and definitely not the last time over the next 3 years that we hear about Lieberals looking after the wealthy and big business only. Who cares if the peons can’t afford food if it stops people like Con Carney and moneybags Weston from buying another yacht
The Needles Drugs and Poverty Party yet again living in la la land.
So NDP think it is wise to have the same price for everyone. Not a bad thought, however there is bulk pricing… Do you think airlines pay the street price for fuel? There is child and senior rates… In the auto industry there are many levels, Jobber, Wholesaler, retailer, Mechanic, valued customer, regular customer, walk-in. All with different price structure. – I do not know of any company that charges based on your sex, or skin colour.
If you come in on Monday, it might be on sale, then come in Tuesday, and it is not. We very seldom pay the same price.
How strange. The klepto socialists are against a very much klepto-socialist concept?
This is how you get the millionaires to pay more right? RIGHT?
A mere distraction from the real world issue of a government that has policies that end up increasing prices for average families and creating more inflation. But then that is the story of the NDP who live in la la land most of the time.
The LPC does not care.
If government cared about prices that Canadians pay, they would get serious about removing the industrial carbon tax (10% increase levied on April 1, 2026), and the clean fuels standard which are currently adding nearly 30 cents per litre to gas and diesel.
Everything, literally every single item that Canadians purchase are delivered by boat, truck, or rail, and the effects of these taxes will be passed on to consumers, yet make exactly zero difference to the global climate.
Apparently the government and the NDP specifically would rather focus on an issue which research shows doesn’t yet impact the Canadian consumer.
Lol….
Liberals and transparency….
Keep repeating it maybe one day it will happen. Not likely
A solution in search of a problem.