Whereas Canadians lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to fraudulent listings on online marketplaces, and current consumer protection frameworks provide limited recourse for users of peer-to-peer platforms, as marketplace operators and payment processors typically disclaim responsibility for fraudulent transactions; And whereas other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, have established mandatory platform obligations such as seller verification, fraud prevention measures, and accessible dispute resolution supported by independent regulatory oversight: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the federal and provincial governments for the establishment of accountability standards for online marketplace platforms and associated payment processors, including seller verification requirements, timely removal of fraudulent listings, accessible complaint and dispute resolution mechanisms, and effective enforcement measures.
