Consumer Protection: The Rise of Immediate-Discount Loyalty Programs

With sustained food inflation and high living costs, Canadian consumers are fundamentally shifting how they interact with retail loyalty programs. The traditional "earn and hold" points framework—where shoppers collect micro-rewards for months to unlock delayed redemptions—is rapidly losing ground. Instead, households are prioritizing instant shelf savings and immediate cash-equivalent discounts applied right at the register. Retail giants are responding by pivoting their digital apps toward dua