REPRESENTING THE UNREPRESENTED

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is a national non-profit charitable organization founded in 1976, dedicated to providing legal and research resources to Canadians and Canadian organizations who could otherwise not have their interests represented. PIAC's work for such clients involves issues involving the delivery of important public services that generally affect large numbers of ordinary or vulnerable Canadians.

Description

Over the years, PIAC has focused on the regulation of public utilities or delivery of important public services as a priority for the organization. PIAC’s legal representation and research capabilities have been engaged on behalf of vulnerable consumers of telecommunications, energy, banking, and transportation products and services. PIAC’s efforts have provided representation for the interests of countless numbers of Canadians to fight for their access to essential commodities and services at prices that they can afford.

In addition to this important role, PIAC also engages in related work in the areas of competition, privacy, e-commerce and general consumer protection to ensure that the interests of vulnerable and ordinary consumers are represented before tribunals, courts, and relevant governmental decision-makers. This work includes legal services, research and published reports, and presentations before relevant decision-making bodies.