Canadian Tire has been ordered to pay just under $1.3 million after pleading guilty to 74 violations of Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act for false advertising.

A Quebec judge approved the settlement at a Montreal courthouse after the company changed its plea from not guilty. The fines stem from a six-month investigation in 2021 by Quebec’s consumer protection office.

Investigators found Canadian Tire advertised sale items using inflated regular prices, making discounts appear bigger than they were. Sales data showed the products were rarely sold at those regular prices.

The case involved seven products, including knife sets, cookware and a cordless drill. Canadian Tire admitted responsibility for five of them.

In a statement, the company said no customers were overcharged and the issue is now resolved. The fines must be paid within 12 months.