This article was first published in Competition Policy International – Antitrust Chronicle on September 3, 2024; for further in-depth analysis, please visit the Antitrust Chronicle®

I. Introduction

Canada has embarked on a transformative journey to fortify its competition policy landscape, hopefully ushering in a new era of regulatory vigor and market fairness. The recent amendments to the Competition Act mark a significant milestone in Canada’s commitment to fostering a competitive marketplace that benefits consumers and businesses alike. Led by the efforts of policymakers, the Competition Bureau, and competition advocates, these reforms aim to address anti-competitive practices, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and promote a culture of fair competition.Continue Reading Amendments To The Competition Act Only One Step Towards A Truly Competitive Economy

On July 19, 2023, the United States Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice (together, the “Agencies”) released draft Merger Guidelines (the “Draft Guidelines”) for public comment. Once finalized, the Draft Guidelines, which are designed to help the public, business community, practitioners and courts understand how the Agencies identify potentially illegal mergers, will replace the US Horizontal Merger Guidelines issued in 2010 and the US Vertical Merger Guidelines issued in 2020.Continue Reading United States Antitrust Agencies Announce New Merger Guidelines: Overview and Implications for Canada

As discussed in our previous blog post, on November 17, 2022, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, launched the much anticipated public consultation on the second stage of potential amendments to the Competition Act (the “Act”).
Continue Reading The Merger Review Process – What Lies Ahead?

On September 20, 2022, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) hosted its Competition and Green Growth Summit (the “Summit”). In a nutshell:  while the Competition Bureau did not provide any definitive policy pronouncements or specific directives (as the Summit was structured as a high level discussion on the intersection of competition law, deceptive marketing and sustainability policies), sustainability related matters are clearly an enforcement priority for the Bureau. Among other things, Commissioner Boswell highlighted the need for urgent action in addressing climate change and the increased interest by consumers and businesses in moving towards a greener economy.
Continue Reading Competition Bureau Green Growth Summit – Summary and Key Takeaways