Thank you as well to our critic for consumer protection. The member for Humber River–Black Creek talked a lot about the need for an Ontario consumer watchdog. While listening to the debate today I think often of people who come to our office—probably all of our offices. It’s very often senior citizens who have been duped over the telephone, people who picked up the phone and found out that they’ve won a trip. Everyone knows that foghorn noise that goes off.

It’s individuals being affected by this. Typically, large organizations have deep pockets, they have lobbyists and they have an advocacy voice. One of the things that the member said was, consumers will be better armed but still ungunned. I think that really resonates with me. Maybe he could expand on why the people of Ontario need a consumer watchdog.

I wanted to raise the issue that the member from Humber River–Black Creek has proposed, last session and then this session, which is the idea of a consumer watchdog. While you have put a lot of new legislations and regulations in place, how is this government going to have an overall sense as to whether they’re having any impact, and whether there are actually positive outcomes for consumers, particularly vulnerable consumers? Similar to the Auditor General or the Ombudsman, you would be able to have a sense of the industry at large. Can you comment a little bit on the notion of a consumer watchdog that would be a complement to these regulations and legislations that you’re putting in place?