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Councillors in several Ontario cities are calling on the province to ban door-to-door sales in the home-service sector, a practice they say victimizes vulnerable residents.

Mississauga Councillor Karen Ras has brought forward a motion as part of the Stop the Knocks campaign, which is seeking to ban the door-to-door sale and lease of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, water heaters and water filtration systems.

"Part of their business model is to prey on unsuspecting people," she said, adding that the elderly, those who speak English as a second language and new homeowners are particularly vulnerable.

Ms. Ras says it specifically targets "long-term electricity contracts, fraudulent, misleading and aggressive door-to-door sales tactics" that are affecting residents across Ontario.

The last straw for her was when she learned that one of her 90-year-old constituents was manipulated into signing a 10-year contract for a water filtration system that she didn't need.

The motion has already garnered support from councillors in Markham, Hamilton and Niagara.

Markham Councillor Colin Campbell is on board but says the ban is not intended to leave reputable businesses out in the cold. "This is not to stop normal businesses," he said. "I just bought Girl Guide cookies last Sunday."

The proposed ban is welcome news to some charity and non-profit groups.

"Having people like this out there challenges the work that we do," said Justin Conley, the developmental director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance. "We're totally different entities."

In the past two days, Ms. Ras has received 20 phone calls and e-mails from residents about their negative experiences with door-to-door sales. At the very least, she hopes the campaign lets people know that it's okay not to answer the door or sign a contract.

Last year the province banned similar practices involving the sale of electricity and natural gas contracts through the Strengthening Consumer Protection and Electricity System Oversight Act.

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