Master of Public Policy Graduate John Halligan Advocates for Consumer Protection in the Ontario Legislature

Master of Public Policy (MPP) graduate John Halligan recently brought his policy expertise to Queen’s Park, supporting MPP Tom Rakocevic’s (Humber River—Black Creek) private member’s motion addressing the challenges of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services. Drawing on findings from his MPP Capstone project, Halligan highlighted the need for greater transparency and consumer understanding in this rapidly evolving financial space.

Halligan emphasized that while BNPL services offer consumers flexibility and can potentially drive business growth, they currently operate in a regulatory grey zone, creating risks for both consumers and the broader economy. He noted that a lack of clear rules around fee disclosure, inconsistent credit reporting practices, and affordability checks leave Ontarians vulnerable to financial strain and confusion.

“BNPL is reshaping how we shop and spend, in principle providing benefits to consumers and businesses alike,” Halligan said. “But in practice, without clear standards, Ontarians can’t always be confident about the costs or implications of these services. This motion is not about adding barriers but adding guardrails. It is about ensuring consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions while supporting an innovative digital and financial marketplace.”

The private member’s motion seeks to introduce measures to improve transparency, such as requiring clear disclosure of fees, penalties, and repayment terms, as well as initiatives to enhance consumer awareness. Halligan’s contributions highlighted the importance of ensuring BNPL services are both fair and accessible without imposing unnecessary regulations that could stifle industry growth.

Halligan’s participation demonstrates the MPP program’s focus on evidence-based policy development and its graduates’ ability to bridge academic research with real-world impact.