''CBC Marketplace'' is a Canadian investigative consumer program which has been broadcast on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

since 1972. The program investigates consumer reports on issues such as

product testing File:Consumer Reports - product testing - electric light longevity and brightness testing.tif, Testing electric light longevity and brightness testing File:Consumer Reports - product testing - television testing laboratory.tif, Television testin ...

health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

and

safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are ...

fraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compens ...

ulent business practices, and also tests government and industry promises.

History

The program was influential in the banning of urea formaldehyde foam insulation and

lawn darts Lawn darts (also known as Javelin darts, jarts, lawn jarts or yard darts) is a lawn game for two players or teams. A lawn dart set usually includes four large darts and two targets. The game play and objective are similar to those of both horses ...

in Canada, the legislation of warnings on exploding pop bottles, successful prosecution of

retailer Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and t ...

s for false

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

, new standards for

bottled water Bottled water is drinking water (e.g., well water, distilled water, mineral water, or spring water) packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not. Sizes range from small single serving bottles to large car ...

and

drinking fountain A drinking fountain, also called a water fountain or water bubbler, is a fountain designed to provide drinking water. It consists of a basin with either continuously running water or a tap. The drinker bends down to the stream of water and s ...

s, new regulations to make children's sleepwear less flammable, and the implementation of safer designs for children's cribs. In recent years, the program's reporting has exposed the illegal dumping and burning of Canadian

plastic recycling Plastic recycling is the reprocessing of plastic waste into new products. When performed correctly, this can reduce dependence on landfill, conserve resources and protect the environment from plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. A ...

in Malaysia, the sale of fake university degrees to Canadian professors and social workers, and its hidden camera investigations documented hygiene issues in hospitals, misleading sales practices, and violence and neglect in long-term care homes. Investigations have led to corporate and government changes: Google Maps launched a review of the country's locksmith listings after the identification of dozens of fake listings and reviews. Ontario's real estate board launched an investigation and review of its agents after the program documented agents breaking rules around “double-ending”. When the program's original lab testing found dangerous levels of cadmium in jewelry sold by Ardene and Aldo, journalists travelled to China to expose how these chemicals end up on Canadian store shelves. The episode prompted an investigation by Health Canada and changes in the companies’ suppliers. One of its most popular programs involved an international investigation tracking the people behind those annoying fake Canada Revenue scams and tech support scams. The reporting triggered “Project Octavia”, a criminal investigation by the country's top police force (RCMP). In February 2020, journalists were granted exclusive access to document the arrest of Canadian “super money mules” alleged to have been working with criminals in India to defraud Canadian victims. ''Marketplace'' was originally hosted by Joan Watson and George Finstad. Other hosts have included Bill Paul, Harry Brown, Norma Kent,

Jacquie Perrin Jacquie Perrin (born c. 1949) is a Canadian journalist. She was host of the CBC's ''Saturday Report'' and is current host of the Sunday 5:00 p.m. edition of CBC News: Today on CBC Newsworld. Her broadcast career began at CKWS radio in Ki ...

, Christine Johnson,

Erica Johnson Erica Johnson is a Canadian broadcast journalist who currently hosts the TV series ''Go Public'', and formerly hosted ''Marketplace'' on CBC Television. Johnson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. A graduate of Ryerson Polytechnical Institut ...

, Jim Nunn, Tom Harrington and

Wendy Mesley Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity ...

. The program's current hosts are David Common, Charlsie Agro and

Asha Tomlinson Asha Tomlinson is a Canadian television journalist, currently one of the hosts of CBC Television's consumer affairs newsmagazine series ''Marketplace''. She is a two-time Canadian Screen Award winner for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Inform ...

. Early seasons of the program had a theme song, "The Consumer", which was written and performed by Stompin' Tom Connors. For several years, every episode would begin with Connors singing the song, which became a hit.

Episodes

2014–2015 season

The 2014–2015 season was the 42nd season of Marketplace.

2015–2016 season

The 2015–2016 season was the 43rd season of Marketplace. It aired October 30, 2015 to April 8, 2016.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Marketplace (Canadian Tv program) 1970s Canadian television news shows 1980s Canadian television news shows 1990s Canadian television news shows 2000s Canadian television news shows 2010s Canadian television news shows 2020s Canadian television news shows 1972 Canadian television series debuts CBC Television original programming CBC News Consumer protection television series Current affairs shows