{May 27, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC has released its 2010 Annual Report and 2010 audited financial statements.

Each spring, we prepare a report that highlights the organization’s accomplishments over the last fiscal year.  This report provides statistical information, financial information and an overview of how we met our operational goals according to our three-year Business Plan.

“It is with pleasure that I share with you our 2010 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements,” says Scott McBride, President and CEO of Consumer Protection BC.  “I want to thank our staff, Advisory Group members, licensees, government, and all of our partners for their contributions to a successful year.”

We undertook some major initiatives in 2010, including:

• The development of web portals for the travel and debt industries;
• The completion of a compliance risk management framework ;
• Consultations around licensing fee changes;
• Recruitment for our industry advisory groups;
• The transition to a new CEO;
• Recommendations around the travel regulations to government; and
• The implemented of three social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and a corporate blog.

The following are some statistics from 2010:

• 14,300 calls and written inquiries were addressed by our Inquiry Centre;
• 95% of the calls to our Inquiry Centre were answered live;
• 10,728 licences were issued;
• 233 compliance inspections were performed;
• 817 enforcement files were concluded; and
• 1,176 general release exhibition trailers & motion pictures were viewed by our Motion Picture Classification staff.

For more details about our activities and initiatives in 2010, please view the Annual Report in full or call us toll free at 1-888-564-9963.

Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit corporation that was created to strengthen consumer protection in BC and enforce consumer protection laws. We balance the interests of all parties to promote a marketplace that is fair for both BC consumers and BC businesses. We license and inspect specific industries, respond to inquiries through our Inquiry Centre, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities under the law.  For more information about our organization, please visit our corporate website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.

Follow Consumer Protection BC on Twitter @ConsumerProBC, like us on Facebook and read our blog for valuable consumer tips and resources.