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Headed by the Commissioner of Competition, the Bureau is responsible for the administration and enforcement of four pieces of legislation. The Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, (except as it relates to food), the Textile Labelling Act, and the Precious Metals Marking Act.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth.
Oct 4, 2024 · The Act is primarily administered and enforced by the Competition Bureau (the Bureau) and the Public Prosecutions Service of Canada. Most provisions can also be enforced by private parties, and significant recent amendments to the Act will likely result in increased enforcement by private parties.
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Pre-merger notification transaction-size threshold to remain at $93 million, while deadline to participate in competition consultation extended to March 31, 2023
Pre-merger notification transaction-size threshold to remain at $93 million, while deadline to participate in competition consultation extended to March 31, 2023
February 2, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario
A competitive economy is a fair, innovative and prosperous economy. That is why the Government of Canada remains committed to do everything it can to improve competition and affordability, and will use every tool available to ensure that the Canadian economy is strong, resilient and creates jobs and prosperity.
Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced that he will maintain the transaction-size threshold for the advance notification of mergers under the Competition Act (the Act) for 2023 at $93 million. This is the second year in a row that the Minister has maintained the threshold. This will ensure that potentially harmful deals are fully scrutinized by the Competition Bureau. It also reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to see more competition in the marketplace through a robust enforcement framework.
In November 2022, the government launched the Competition Act review. Recognizing the significant interest from stakeholders across Canada, today, Minister Champagne also announced the extension of the deadline for Canadians to submit their comments to March 31, 2023.
“Canadians are rightfully worried about the rising cost of living. That’s why our government continues to do everything it can to make life more affordable, including ensuring a more competitive marketplace. I also trust that the Competition Bureau will ensure a fair and vigorous enforcement of the law, keeping a close eye on any evidence of foul play from companies taking advantage of global inflationary pressures, including in the food, energy, transportation and tech sectors. I also trust the Bureau will take swift action when necessary.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
•Under the merger provisions of the Competition Act, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has the power to review the pre-merger notification threshold annually.
The Minister may leave the threshold unchanged or may adjust it using the indexing mechanism set out in the Competition Act, which is based on change in Canada’s nominal GDP, or prescribe a different amount to be established by regulation.
On November 17, 2022, the government launched a public consultation to hear Canadians’ views on broader changes to the Act and its enforcement framework that will help the Competition Bureau better protect consumers and the integrity of the marketplace.
Concurrently, the Competition Bureau is presently consulting Canadians on new guidance related to wage fixing and no-poaching agreements. Wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements between employers will be criminally prohibited following amendments made to the Competition Act last summer. This provision will come into force on June 23, 2023.
•Statement from Minister Champagne on the launch of the Competition Act review
•Consultation on the future of competition policy in Canada
Jul 31, 2023 · The Act is administered and enforced by the Commissioner of Competition (the “Commissioner”) and the Commissioner’s staff, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”), which is part of the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada portfolio. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the Act applies to all business activities in Canada.
1.1 The purpose of this Act is to maintain and encourage competition in Canada in order to promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy, in order to expand opportunities for Canadian participation in world markets while at the same time recognizing the role of foreign competition in Canada, in order to ensure that small and ...
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Competition Act (. R.S.C. , 1985, c. C-34) Act current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2024-06-20. Previous Versions. See coming into force provision and notes, where applicable.
