Consumer Protection B.C.
Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit provincial regulator that licenses 11 BC business sectors, classifies motion pictures, handles consumer complaints, and enforces consumer protection law on a cost-recovery model funded by licensing fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersVictoria, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Consumer Protection B.C. does
Consumer Protection BC (legal name: Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority) is a not-for-profit corporation established under provincial legislation and delegated by the Province of British Columbia to administer consumer protection law. It licenses and regulates 11 specified business sectors — crematoriums, funeral services, cemeteries, debt collection and bailiffs, debt repayment, high-cost credit granting, home inspections, payday lending, telemarketing, travel agencies, and motion picture distributors — under four Acts (Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, Cremation Interment and Funeral Services Act, Motion Picture Act, and Ticket Sales Act). Its service portfolio includes consumer help and complaint handling, business licensing and compliance inspections, motion picture classification with ratings and advisories, and progressive enforcement actions (suspensions, compliance orders, administrative penalties). Delivery occurs through a consumer-facing website, the MyAccount self-service portal for licensees, a public Enforcement Actions Portal, phone support, and two BC offices in Victoria (headquarters) and Burnaby.
The organization is financed on a cost-recovery model via licensing revenues from regulated industries and receives no taxpayer funding. It is governed by a Board of Directors (chaired by Bill Snell, with directors including Carol Brown, Sandra Heath, Kelly Marshall, Ali Solehdin, and Alicia Williams) and led operationally by Acting President & CEO Tayt Winnitoy and three Vice Presidents (Laura Casey, Shahid Noorani, Dan Stefanson). Through a 2022-2052 Administrative Agreement with the BC Attorney General, it holds a 30-year delegation of authority; it has additionally signed MOUs with the Competition Bureau Canada (2017) and CRTC (2018), and in July 2023 began providing motion picture classification services to Manitoba. The technology stack is standard (website, MyAccount portal, classification database) with no proprietary AI/ML capabilities disclosed.
Consumer Protection B.C. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Consumer Protection B.C.
- Legal name
- Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority
- Website
- https://consumerprotectionbc.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit provincial regulator that licenses 11 BC business sectors, classifies motion pictures, handles consumer complaints, and enforces consumer protection law on a cost-recovery model funded by licensing fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Consumer Protection B.C. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Protection Regulation
- NAICS
- Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Protection & Product Safety Regulators (BPAIAOAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO), Licensing & Permitting Authorities (General) (BPAIAOAB)
Keywords
Where Consumer Protection B.C. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Victoria
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Consumer Protection B.C. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Licensing Revenues: Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit regulator operating under a cost-recovery model. The organization is financed primarily through licensing revenues from the industries they regulate. They do not receive taxpayer funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Motion picture classification fees for Manitoba distribution |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Consumer Protection B.C. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Consumer Protection BC licenses and regulates 11+ business sectors in British Columbia (including crematoriums, funeral services, cemeteries, debt collection and bailiffs, debt repayment, high-cost credit granting, home inspections, payday loans, telemarketing, travel, and motion picture distributors). It also classifies motion pictures exhibited in BC and, under an administrative agreement, for Manitoba; investigates consumer complaints; conducts compliance inspections; and takes progressive enforcement actions against non-compliant businesses. Services are financed through licensing revenues under a cost-recovery model.
Product overview
Consumer Protection BC operates as a provincial regulatory body rather than a commercial product company. Its service portfolio consists of consumer protection and regulatory functions: Consumer Help provides information and complaint handling for consumers; Motion Picture Classification rates and classifies films exhibited in BC; Business Licensing oversees 11 regulated sectors including crematoriums, funeral services, cemeteries, debt collection, bailiffs, payday loans, high-cost credit, home inspections, telemarketing, travel, and motion pictures; the Enforcement Actions Portal publishes licensing decisions and allows licence status checks; and the MyAccount Portal enables licensees to manage their accounts online. These services are delivered through a cost-recovery model funded by licensing revenues, not through a unified software product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Motion Picture Classification Classifies all motion pictures exhibited in British Columbia, including theatrical releases, adult/restricted DVDs, and home video, and provides classification services for Manitoba under an administrative agreement. Deliverables include ratings, content advisories, and decision summaries for films distributed to theatres. The service is billed at $2.00 per minute (minimum $220.00) for review and certification of the first copy for Manitoba distribution, and $1.00 per minute for each additional copy certification.
- Business Licensing Issues and administers licences for businesses in 11+ regulated sectors in British Columbia, including crematoriums, funeral services, places of interment (cemeteries), debt collection and bailiffs, debt repayment, high-cost credit granting, home inspections, payday loans, telemarketing, travel, and motion picture distributors. Fees are set according to the Fee Setting Criteria Regulation and administered via the MyAccount portal.
- Consumer Help Provides British Columbia consumers with information and assistance on marketplace issues, tools to solve problems, and complaint filing options for regulated sectors. Delivered via the consumer help website and the 1.888.564.9963 consumer phone line.
- Complaint Handling and Inspection Services Reviews and investigates consumer complaints against regulated businesses, and conducts compliance inspections. Uses a progressive enforcement approach aimed at voluntary compliance rather than punishment.
- Enforcement Actions Portal Publishes licensing and enforcement actions taken by Consumer Protection BC, including licence suspensions, compliance orders, administrative penalties, and decision summaries. Allows the public to check the licence status of regulated businesses and explore closed cases.
- MyAccount Portal Self-service online portal for licensed businesses to manage their accounts, renew licences, renew employee licences, submit financial information, and access licensee-specific resources and communications.
Companies that use Consumer Protection B.C.
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Consumer Protection B.C. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Consumer Protection B.C. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Province of ManitobacoreAdministrative agreement to provide motion picture classification services for the province of Manitoba. Consumer Protection BC provides classification services including ratings, advisories, and decision summaries for films distributed to theatres in Manitoba.
- Province of British Columbia (Attorney General)coreAdministrative Agreement between Consumer Protection BC and the Attorney General to protect and educate consumers by carrying out responsibilities under BC's consumer protection laws. The 2022-2052 agreement establishes the regulatory framework and accountability structure.
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)minorMemorandum of Understanding with the CRTC to enhance cooperation between agencies on matters related to consumer protection in telecommunications.
- Competition Bureau CanadaminorMemorandum of Understanding with the Competition Bureau to enhance cooperation between agencies, likely related to consumer protection and competition law enforcement.
- BC Legislative AssemblycoreConsumer Protection BC cannot advocate for legislative changes directly. They provide recommendations to government regarding enhancements to consumer protection laws, which are then considered by the BC Legislative Assembly.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Consumer Protection B.C. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Competition Bureau Canada: Federal agency responsible for competition and consumer protection enforcement. CPBC has a 2017 MOU with the Bureau; comparable in enforcement and consumer-protection mandate but at the federal level.
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC): Australia's national consumer protection and competition regulator. Comparable in function (consumer protection enforcement, licensing-like oversight, compliance actions), though larger and federal rather than provincial.
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC): Federal regulator with overlapping consumer protection and enforcement mandate in telecom/broadcasting. CPBC has an active MOU with CRTC, making it both a peer and a cooperation partner.
Direct peers
- Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO): Ontario's delegated travel industry regulator — directly comparable to Consumer Protection BC's travel sector licensing function. TICO is a not-for-profit delegated authority that licenses travel sellers and administers a compensation fund, mirroring CPBC's travel regulation mandate.
- Real Estate Council of British Columbia: Another BC delegated provincial regulator administering licensing and consumer protection for real estate professionals. Operates under the same delegated-authority legislative framework as Consumer Protection BC.
- Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC): Alberta's delegated automotive industry regulator. Comparable to CPBC as another Canadian not-for-profit delegated authority regulator licensing a defined industry sector under provincial statute.
- BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA): BC's delegated financial services regulator operating under a similar not-for-profit delegated-authority model. Both share the BC provincial regulator structure, board-governed independent operating model, and cost-recovery financing approach.
- Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC): Ontario's delegated regulator for motor vehicle dealers, operating as a not-for-profit delegated authority. Shares the same structural model as Consumer Protection BC — industry-funded, board-governed, delegated by government to license and enforce.
Regional players
- Manitoba Consumer Protection Office: Manitoba's provincial consumer protection regulator — notably the same province CPBC has an administrative agreement with for motion picture classification, making it both a peer and a partner.
- Service Alberta – Consumer Protection: Alberta's provincial consumer protection authority licensing and regulating similar sectors (funeral, debt collection, payday lending). Functions as a comparable provincial regulator but in a different jurisdiction.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Consumer Protection B.C. social profiles
Digital presenceConsumer Protection B.C. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Consumer Protection B.C. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Consumer Protection B.C. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Consumer Protection B.C. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Consumer Protection B.C.
What does Consumer Protection B.C. do?
Consumer Protection BC licenses and regulates 11+ business sectors in British Columbia (including crematoriums, funeral services, cemeteries, debt collection and bailiffs, debt repayment, high-cost credit granting, home inspections, payday loans, telemarketing, travel, and motion picture distributors). It also classifies motion pictures exhibited in BC and, under an administrative agreement, for Manitoba; investigates consumer complaints; conducts compliance inspections; and takes progressive enforcement actions against non-compliant businesses. Services are financed through licensing revenues under a cost-recovery model.
Is Consumer Protection B.C. a public or private company?
Consumer Protection B.C. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Consumer Protection B.C. founded?
Consumer Protection B.C. was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Consumer Protection B.C. based?
Consumer Protection B.C. is headquartered in Victoria, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Consumer Protection B.C. make money?
One revenue line is on record: licensing Revenues.
Who are Consumer Protection B.C.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Competition Bureau Canada, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Direct peers are Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), Real Estate Council of British Columbia, Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC), BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) and Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC). Regional players are Manitoba Consumer Protection Office and Service Alberta – Consumer Protection.
Does Consumer Protection B.C. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Consumer Protection B.C..
What industry is Consumer Protection B.C. in?
Consumer Protection B.C.'s product category is Consumer Protection Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAOAE, Consumer Protection & Product Safety Regulators, with a secondary code of BPAIABAO, State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector). Its NAICS code is 92615 and its SIC code is 7829.