1977 Bill 202 Third Session, 18th Legisl:ature, 26 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 202 THE CASH DISCOUNT ACT MR. TAYLOR First Reading Second Reading Third Reading PrllIteII ." till Queen's Printer for the Province of Alberta, EDMONTON

Bill 202 Mr._Taylor BILL 202 1977 THE CASH DISCOUNT ACT (Assented to , 1977) HER MAJESTY, by land with the advice and cO'nsent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1. For the purposes 'Of this Act, fa) "credit ciard" means a credit card owned, fran­ chised, operated or financed by a person 'Other than the merchant accepting its use for payment; (b) "lending institution" means any 'OrganizatiO'n that 'Owns, fl'lanchises, 'Operates or finances a credit card; (c) "merehiant" me1ansany pers'On O'wning O'r 'Operating a retail 'Or whQlesale business supplying gO'ods or services fQr sale O'r rent; (d) "Minister" means the Minister 'Of Consumer and Corporate Af:~airs. 2.

(1) Any merchant- O'ffering gO'ods 'Or services for sale 'Or rent and whO' offers to' accept payment therefO'r by credit card shall at the s'ame time 'Offer to accept payment fOor such goods or services by cash, certified cheque or mO'ney O'rder at a price which is n'Ot less than twO' per cent less than the pdce quoted fO'r payment by credit card.

(2) F'Or the purposes 'Of this Act a persO'n whO' advertises by any means O'r at any place the general acceptance of a credit card at his pl1ace of business shall be deemed to be 'Offering any 'Of the gO' ods or services normally sold at 'Or rented frO'm his place 'Of business by credit card. 3. All merchants shall displ:ay in the pl1ace where goO'ds or services are being offered to the public a sign stating the price of such goods 'Or services, unless ea'ch item bears a price tag or some meth'Od 'Of pricing visifble to the COonsumer. 4. NO' person may enter intO' or continue any agreement with a merchant which purports to f'Orbid the merchant from O'ffering the discount described in

section 2 'Or places any disadvantage on a merchant whO' 'Offers ~uch dh:lcount,

Explanatory Notes General. This Bill gives cash customers a 2% discount and corrects the present situation where cash customers subsidize credit card customers. I.

Definitions. 2. Cash discount to be offered from credit card price. s. Merchant required to display prices. 4. Agreement'S forbidden which prohibit cash discounts or pena­ lize merchants giving them.

and any such agreement is void wh~ther entered into before or after the commencement of this Act. 5.

(1) Every merchant and lending institution shall on dem'and give the Minister access to his books and records so that he may ensure compliance with this Act.

(2) The Minister m'ay by regulation delegate the power granted to him in subsection (1) to any employee of the Government. G. The Minister may make regul1ations for the purposes 'Of s'ection 5 (2) and as otherwise necess1ary for the enforce­ ment and operation of this Act. 7.

Any merchant or lending institution who infring'es any provision 'Of this Act or any regulation made hereunder, is guilty of an 'Offence, and upon summ'ary conviction shall be liable for a first offence to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500, and, for a second and subseqent conviction, to a fine 'Of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000. 8. This Act comes into force on the day upon which it is assented to. 2

5. Minister to have access t'O documents. 6. Minister empowered to make regulations. 7. Offences, penalties. 8. Coming into force. 2 Title: 1977 (18th, 3rd) Bill 202, The Cash Discount Act