Have You Been a Victim of Canada Goose False Advertising?

Canada Goose, a manufacturer of coyote fur-trimmed winter parkas, has been accused of false advertising claims that its furs are “ethically sourced.” It is not the first time that consumers have called the company out on such mislabeling claims; however, since the organizations People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Animal Justice filed formal complaints, a number of these claims have disappeared from the company’s website.

Now, Canada Goose may face legal action from consumers and animal rights organizations over such false claims.

What Were the Canada Goose False Claims?

In a formal complaint filed with the Canadian Competition Bureau, Animal Justice disputed Canada Goose’s statements, charging them with making misleading and false claims. An attorney for the organization said, “Coyotes are trapped in cruel leg hold traps, kill traps and snares that cause severe suffering.”

Last year in the U.S., PETA filed its own complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Graphic film footage taken at one of Canada Goose’s down suppliers showed geese being grabbed and carried by their necks and literally piled on top of one another in pens, being deprived of food and water and forced to watch as other geese were being violently slaughtered.

Canada Goose denied that the film depicted one of its suppliers. Nonetheless, they removed a “down tractability” video from its corporate website shortly thereafter.

In addition to calling out Canada Goose on its claims of ethical sourcing, one of the complaints raised questions about the company’s claim that coyote fur is warmer than artificial materials.

A lawyer working for Animal Justice said, “Synthetic materials are used by high functioning organizations in very cold environments like many militaries and explorers and there is no evidence that real coyote fur is warmer.”

False Advertising Laws

Canadian laws against false claims in advertising are enforced by the country’s Competition Bureau. Among other issues, Canada’s false advertising laws cover dishonest claims about price, value or quality, false and misleading statements about a product’s useful life or performance, and fabricated, misleading or unauthorized use of testimonials or product testing.

How to Report False Advertising in Canada

Violations of the Canadian Competition Act or any of its provisions (including consumer packaging and labeling or textile labeling) may be reported through the Competition Bureau website, using its online Complaint Form.

False Advertising Lawsuit

In September of 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. against Canada Goose on behalf of investors who were affected by the allegations of false claims.

In 2015, a spokesperson for Canada Goose responded to false advertising claims, stating that they buy their furs only from certified trappers and “…have gone to great lengths to be as open as possible about why we use fur on our products, how it is sourced, and the government-regulated practices of the Canadian fur industry.” She further stated that “…we don’t believe that the humane killing of animals for functional purpose is wrong,” and that Canada Goose is a “target for activist groups whose views will never align with ours.”

Many other companies have been accused of false advertising, including communications companies and restaurants.

Join a Free Canada Goose Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you live in Canada and you purchased a Canada Goose coat with coyote fur trim within the last two years, you may qualify to participate in this Canada Goose class action lawsuit investigation.

Fill out the form on this page and a Canadian lawyer will contact you if you qualify!

Get a Free Case Evaluation

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.