Every Friday, Consumer Reporter Lynda Steele dips into the mailbag to answer your questions. This week, Steele on Your Side investigates warning labels on lamps and Treo toll exemptions.
Cancer warning
Lisa wrote Steele on Your Side after purchasing a lamp at HomeSense. When she got home she noticed a warning label that said: "This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm". She wants to know why this product would be for sale in Canada.
California has strict regulations and requires manufacturers to label products that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or harm.
While the wording on the lamp's tag will get your attention, it doesn't necessarily mean the product violates Canadian safety standards.
Businesses aren't required to say why the warning is on a product, but for your own peace of mind, you can contact the manufacturer to find out.
For a complete list of the chemicals covered under these regulations click here.
Treo toll exemptions
Stephanie wrote to ask about disability toll exemptions for the Port Mann Bridge. Her daughter has a disability which requires them to make several trips to B.C. Children's Hospital. She wants to know why Treo will only give exemptions to disabled car owners and not their caregivers.
Treo told us it reviewed its exemption policy back in August 2013 and found no other electronic toll roads or bridges in North America provide exemptions to parents of children with disabilities.
It also says extending the eligibility would increase the exemption program's costs to $1 million a year, from its current $300,000 costs. For those reasons, Treo says it has no plans to change the policy.
