A new playing field: Summarizing sweeping reforms to the Canadian Competition Act
Overview On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59, known as The Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act[1], 2023, received royal assent, enacting further amendments to Canada’s Competition Act (the “Act”). Over the last two years, the Act has been substantially reformed through […]
Competition Act and Investment Canada Act: New merger review thresholds in effect
Highlights The 2021 merger review thresholds under the Competition Act (“CA”) and the Investment Canada Act (“ICA”) (collectively, the “Thresholds”) are now in full effect until the next annual adjustment. The Thresholds assist in determining whether a proposed transaction triggers: […]
Competition Bureau to host The Competition and Growth Summit in June 2021
The Canadian economy is on the road to recovery after experiencing significant economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including: a decline in gross domestic product: Canada (5.4%)[1] and worldwide (4.9%);[2] an increase in unemployment: Canada (4%), North America (9.2%),[3] […]
2022 merger review thresholds
Highlights The 2022 merger review thresholds under the Competition Act (the “CA”) and the Investment Canada Act (the “ICA”) (collectively, the “Thresholds”) are now in full effect until the next annual adjustment. The Thresholds assist in determining whether a proposed […]
Competition Bureau updates competitor collaboration guidelines
On May 6, 2021, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) released its updated Competitor Collaboration Guidelines (the “Guidelines”),[1] providing refined insight into enforcement efforts under the criminal conspiracy (section 45) and civil agreement (section 90.1) provisions of the Competition Act (the “Act”). Tracing its […]
Federal government expands guidelines related to national security reviews
All foreign investments in Canada, regardless of dollar value, are subject to the national security provisions of the Investment Canada Act (the “ICA”), including greenfield investments. On March 25, 2021, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, released […]
Federal government announces new policy for investments with Russian ties
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has issued a policy statement indicating that: any proposed investment by direct or indirect Russian investors, where “net benefit” clearance is required under the Investment Canada Act (the “ICA”) will […]
International working group launched to share intelligence on potentially anticompetitive conduct impacting global and domestic supply chains
The Canadian Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) and its Five Eyes counterparts have formed an international working group to share intelligence on potentially anticompetitive conduct impacting global and domestic supply chains in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand […]
First round of significant and expansive amendments to the Competition Act in effect
On June 23, 2022, the first round of significant and expansive amendments to the Competition Act (the “Act”) came into effect (the “2022 Amendments”). The 2022 Amendments, together with amendments that are expected to come into effect next year on June 23, 2023 (the “2023 Amendments” and […]
National security provisions of the Investment Canada Act amended to create voluntary filing option
As of August 2, 2022, the national security provisions of the Investment Canada Act (the “Act”) allow foreign investors who do not have a filing obligation under the Act to receive regulatory certainty that the transaction, as it pertains to […]
Canada prohibits no poaching and wage-fixing agreements
On June 23, 2022, the Competition Act (the “Act”) was amended as a result of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022 (the “Amendments”). Some of the changes to the Act are not in effect yet, thus giving firms precious time to […]
Amendments to the Competition Act – Bill C-59 and its impact on “Greenwashing”
Overview On June 20, 2024, the Federal Government passed Bill C-59, known as the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023 (the “Bill C-59”)[1], amending certain provisions set out in the Competition Act (the “Act”)[2]. The amendments to the misleading advertising provisions […]
Gearing up for change: A new look merger-control regime
This bulletin is the second in our subject-matter specific series explained in the article: “A New Playing Field: Summarizing Sweeping Reforms to the Canadian Competition Act”, which summarizes key changes to Canada’s Competition Act (the “Act”). Over the last two […]
