Using the Hassle Helper

Develops and provides services to seniors such as: information and referral, grief and depression counselling, Friendly Visiting (home visits by a volunteer for companionship), Older Victim Services, legal and financial services, educational and recreational programs, health promotion and nutrition, income tax preparation clinics, foot care clinics and congregate hot meal programs at some centres.

Alliance of Canada Travel Associations (Tourism & Recreation)

ACTA is a non-government body consisting of concerned and dedicated travel professionals volunteering their time to work together for the promotion, improvement and advancement of the travel industry while safeguarding the interests of the travelling public. In turn, ACTA serves as the voice and conscience of the travel industry.

Anishinabe Oway-Ishi (Career Counselling)

Provides inner city aboriginal youth from 15-29 years old with the opportunity to participate in an employment preparation and placement program. Assists aboriginal youth to obtain employment or to enrol in further education or training programs.

Automobile Protection Association (Automobiles-Buying, Safety)

This organization is a non-profit association dedicated to promoting consumer interests in the marketplace. Offers to consumers who are members, such information as safety recalls, tire ratings, used vehicle pricing and overall information counselling to help chose a vehicle.

Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba (Automobiles-Repairs)

Represents the automotive industry in Manitoba, including auto body shops, mechanics, automotive suppliers, automotive recyclers, and some car dealers (those who house auto body shops). Negotiates shop rates for MPI. Provides educational opportunities to its members.

Bank of Canada (Credit and Finance)

Regulates credit and currency and monitors the economy of Canada. Offers information on financial rates and statistics including exchange and interest rates. Consumers can also get information on unclaimed balances including deposit accounts, certified cheques, bank drafts, traveller’s cheques and money orders.

Beef Information Centre (Food-Nutritional/Educational Information)

Offers consumers information on buying, cooking, storing and the safe handling of beef, as well as recipes.

Better Business Bureau (Complaints, Consumer Information-Company Reputations, Trades and Business)

Provides reports on business firms that could be helpful to consumers before making a purchase. Provides information about charity groups and organizations. Helps resolve consumers’ disputes with businesses through telephone conciliation, mediation and arbitration. Provides a variety of publications to consumers such as consumer buying guides and business guidelines, in order to help people make informed marketplace decisions.

Blue Cross of Manitoba /Claims and Customer Service (Insurance)

Offers essential services within the supplementary healthcare and travel benefit fields. Provides group health and dental benefits, disability insurance and travel insurance.

Bureau of Competition Policy - Marketing Practices Branch (Advertising, Fraud)

Promotes fair competition in the marketplace by discouraging deceptive business practices. The Bureau investigates complaints of false advertising. Provides consumers information on deceptive practices such as telemarketing scams, pyramid selling and Internet fraud.

Canadian Automobile Association (Automobiles-Buying and Safety, Product Safety-Children’s Products)

Offers advise to consumers on a wide range of automotive topics and products including: market values, consumer ratings, advise on buying and selling, and auto theft protection. Consumers can also get information on child car seats including recall notices, recommended seats for weight/height limits and instruction on installation. The association also appraises, approves and recommends auto repair facilities that provide consistent and high quality workmanship.

Canadian Bankers Association (Credit and Finance)

Develops industry standards and provides a forum for dialogue between the banks and the public. Services include tips on protecting consumers’ credit cards and fraud identification for Visa and MasterCard. Also offers a variety of financial publications to consumers on various topics such as buying a home-mortgages, interest rates, managing and safeguarding your money, investing your dollar, planning for retirement and getting started in small business.

Canada Employment Centre (Career Counselling)

Provides Canadians with a wide variety of programs and services including: income support (unemployment insurance, pension plan and old age security), human resource development (career counselling and job search), workplace safety and labour market adjustment programs.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Food)

Conducts inspections of meat and fish processing establishments across Canada. Checks shipments of plants, animals, and food from abroad. Inspect agricultural establishments, such as potato fields, greenhouses, and livestock premises. Analyses food samples for impurities. Reviews food labels for honesty and accuracy, investigates complaints about food products and prosecutes offenders.

Canadian Human Rights Commission (Human Rights)

Receives inquiries regarding human rights and discrimination within the federal jurisdiction. Investigates complaints filed under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Provides public education and information through publications, seminars and speakers.

Canadian Medical Association (Professions)

On behalf of its members and the Canadian public, CMA performs a wide variety of functions, such as advocating health promotion and disease/accident prevention policies and strategies, advocating for access to quality health care, facilitating change within the medical profession, and providing leadership and guidance to physicians to help them influence, manage and adapt to changes in health care delivery. Also provides general information to the public on health and lifestyle topics.

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Housing)

Has information products to help consumers make decisions about their homes – information such as home buying guides, renovation planning, financial assistance, mortgaged insurance, investments and housing markets.

Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (Automobiles-Safety)

Handles disputes between consumers and vehicle manufacturers about the quality of a vehicle or how the manufacturer interprets or implements its new vehicle warranty. The disputes are put before a neutral third party arbitration for resolution.

Canadian Red Cross Society (Emergencies and Trouble Calls)

Helps people affected by emergencies and disasters – situations ranging from a house fire, to a flood threat that disrupts an entire region. Following a disaster, Red Cross works with governments and other humanitarian organizations to provide for peoples basic needs – food, clothing, shelter, first aid, emotional support and family reunification. Offers programs to educate and train Canadians in disaster preparedness, first aid and water safety.

Canadian Standards Association (Appliances–Electric, Product Safety)

Tests products for compliance to national and international standards and issues certification marks for qualified products. Certification marks tell consumers and users that a product has been formally evaluated and that it complies with applicable standards for safety and performance.

Canadian Toy Testing Council (Product Safety-Children’s)

Tests toy products for compliance to national and international standards and issue certification marks for qualified products. Certification marks tell consumers and users that a product has been formally evaluated and approved by the council.

Centra Gas/Customer Service 24 hrs. (Appliances-Gas)

Centra Gas delivers natural gas to Manitoba households, businesses and industries. The customer service line offers information about payment options, how to read gas bills, how to read gas meters, and starting the gas service itself.

Centra Gas/ Gas leak emergency line (Emergency and Trouble Calls)

Telephone line where gas leaks, or problems with natural gas systems can be reported.

Child and Family Services (Community and Social Services, Parenting and Child Care)

Administers the Child and Family Services Act and the Adoption Act through regionally based services. Is responsible for ensuring the provision of essential services for children through adoption, protection from abuse, foster care, residential programs and single expectant parent services.

Child Guidance Clinic (Parenting and Child Care)

Operates a school based support service for Winnipeg schools. Provides clinical services in reading, social work, speech and hearing, psychology, audiology, consultations with teachers, parents and other resources and program planning.

Child Protection Centre (Community and Social Services)

Is an assessment and early intervention unit for abused children and their families. In addition to providing assessment/intervention services, the centre provides consultation and educational services to professionals or any person in the community.

Children’s Advocate (Youth)

Protects the rights, interests and viewpoints of children who are involved in the Child and Family Services system. Anyone who has concerns about the services a child or young person is receiving or not receiving from the Child and Family Services community can contact the Children’s Advocate.

Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba (Parenting and Child Care)

Is the fundraising and research division of the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.

City of Winnipeg License Branch (Licensing of Trades and Businesses)

Provides information on how to get a license for home-based businesses.

Citizens Inquiry Service (Advocacy, Referral-Government)

Is the province of Manitoba’s bilingual information and referral service which helps the consumer identify the provincial department that can help them and provides the consumer contact details.

College of Physicians and Surgeons (Health and Drugs)

Complaints about doctors and practitioners can be filed through this organization. Serves as the licensing body for the medical profession.

Community Financial Counselling Services (Credit