Province advertised payday loan hearing
- PUBLICATION: Halifax Daily News
- BY: Rachel Mendleson
- DATE: Saturday, January 26, 2008
The province did its part to ensure that there was consumer representation at the payday loan hearing, says the spokeswoman for the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearing will set the rules for the high-interest, short-term loans.
The province had been criticized for not appointing consumer advocate David Cameron in time to present evidence. As a result, Cameron could only question the evidence of other interveners, and make submissions.
Spokeswoman Donna Chislett says the government is not required to ensure a consumer advocate is among the interveners.
"It was advertised three times in the city papers and the Cape Breton Post," she said, adding that anyone can apply to appear at URB hearings.
When the department received the initial list of interveners, Chislett said it did include a consumer advocate. But when the department received the final list in mid-November, the party had withdrawn.
"The government felt strongly it was important to have a consumer voice," Chislett said.
Chislett would not name the party that withdrew, but according to senior law student Megan Blaikie, Dalhousie Legal Aid was added to the list erroneously after requesting information on the hearing, and asked to be removed mid-November.
Blaikie had called attention to the effect of Cameron's late appointment in a press release Wednesday.