Liberal MPP's bill to stop expiry of rewards points passes second reading

Back in the fall of 2007, the provincial government banned expiry dates on gift cards, and it’s now considering extending that protection to consumers who are often blindsided by the expiry of rewards points.

Bill 47, also known as the Protecting Rewards Points Act, passed second reading at Queen’s Park on Thursday.

The bill was tabled by Beaches-East York MPP Arthur Potts on Oct. 20. Potts believes it has “unanimous support” and will pass without resistance.

He says many of his constituents have complained about feeling cheated by companies that are ending, or have abruptly devalued their rewards points programs.

Notably, Air Miles collectors were told to use ’em or lose ’em before their accumulated miles expire on Dec. 31, 2016.

“We will not allow companies to have them expiring,” Potts said. “We think that someone has paid for a product, they’ve got some reward points, they should be able to use them.”