TORONTO - Ontario wants the federal government to force Canadian companies to notify customers when their credit or debit card information is compromised.
Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips says he prefers national standards over having every province and territory pass legislation to protect consumers from identity theft.
He says Ontario is urging the Conservative government to make it mandatory for banks and retailers to inform customers when personal information has been stolen.
NDP consumer critic Peter Kormos says Ontario needs its own law to make retailers and financial service companies liable for the theft of customers' personal information.
Kormos says that would serve as a strong incentive for companies like Winners to make sure they use the most secure systems possible to store customers' information.
TJX Companies, the U.S. parent of Winners and HomeSense, was the victim of a massive security breach before Christmas, but didn't reveal it to customers until last month.
The credit card information of Winners and HomeSense customers had been stolen from its computer network.
Canada's privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, also wants financial institutions and corporations to be required by law to notify customers when a security breach takes place.
