Court Sends Antitrust Class Action Claim To The Penalty Box

The September 2026 issue of Blakes Competitive Edge examines recent developments in Canadian competition and foreign investment law, including the Competition Bureau's application to block a major food industry acquisition and new national security reviews under the Investment Canada Act.

On July 15, 2026, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) released its proposed Cartel Enforcement Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) for public consultation. The Guidelines, intended to improve transparency and predictability, provide the Bureau's updated enforcement framework for sections 45 to 49 of the Competition Act (the “Act”), consolidating and modernizing guidance previously contained in the Bureau's Competitor Collaboration Guidelines and Enforcement Guidelines on wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements.

The Competition Bureau has signaled increased enforcement activity regarding exclusive use clauses in commercial leases following amendments to the Competition Act. This update examines emerging responses from the commercial leasing industry and provides guidance on factors landlords and tenants should consider when negotiating lease restrictions in light of heightened regulatory scrutiny.

This past June we wrote about the implications for agribusinesses resulting from the Canadian Competition Bureau’s declared intention to scrutinize the agricultural and food sector for anti-competitive conduct.

Découvrez les développements récents en droit de la concurrence et de l'investissement étranger au Canada, incluant les activités d'application de la loi du Bureau de la concurrence, les examens de fusions par secteur, et les nouvelles accusations criminelles pour pratiques commerciales trompeuses. Cette édition analyse également les tendances clés en matière d'investissements étrangers culturels et non culturels sous la Loi sur Investissement Canada.

The amendments expanded the Competition Bureau’s ability to challenge mergers, and directed greater attention toward smaller and serial acquisitions. The practical result is an environment characterized by longer and more intensive merger reviews, increased scrutiny of transactions that fall below the notification thresholds, and greater willingness by the Bureau to litigate.

The Canadian Competition Bureau's enforcement activity intensifies with criminal charges in a deceptive marketing case, while merger review volumes climb and new guidance emerges on private access to the Competition Tribunal. How are these developments reshaping the competitive landscape for businesses operating in Canada?

Canada's Competition Bureau has released draft Cartel Enforcement Guidelines that consolidate and update guidance on criminal cartel provisions, introducing significant new positions on bid-rigging, foreign-based conspiracies, facilitating practices like MFN clauses, franchise systems, and employer agreements. These proposed guidelines expand the Bureau's enforcement approach beyond established case law and warrant careful attention from Canadian businesses operating in competitive markets.

Le Bureau de la concurrence du Canada intensifie ses activités d'application de la loi avec 116 examens de fusions réalisés au premier semestre 2026, une enquête sur les contrôles de propriété d'Empire Company Limited dans la chaîne d'approvisionnement alimentaire, et la publication de nouvelles lignes directrices sur les cartels. Les développements récents incluent également une entente par voie de consentement avec BVD Petroleum concernant l'acquisiti

When promotion and relegation rules in professional sports leagues create unequal treatment between teams, they may raise significant competition law concerns beyond mere sports governance. A recent Belgian Competition Authority decision demonstrates how league rules protecting certain teams from relegation while disadvantaging others can attract regulatory scrutiny, with potential implications for how Canadian competition law might evaluate similar frameworks in professional sports.

Une enquête récente a révélé une pratique consistant à autoriser à plusieurs reprises des transporteurs présentant des lacunes en matière de sécurité à participer au Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires...

Le 28 août 2026, nous avons organisé notre webinaire Comprendre les répercussions de l’effondrement des négociations commerciales entre le Canada et les États-Unis : Webinaire de Q&R, à l’occasion duquel nous...

Following the breakdown of Canada-U.S. trade discussions in August 2026, McCarthy Tétrault hosted a comprehensive webinar examining the collapse's implications for Canadian businesses.

An Ontario court ruled that arbitration agreements containing "final and binding" language may prevent parties from appealing legal errors made by arbitrators. The decision examines how a $3 million construction dispute was resolved through arbitration, and why the losing party could not challenge the arbitrator's legal mistakes despite their significant financial impact.

Le gouvernement fédéral passe de l’examen de la privatisation d’aéroports à un engagement en ce sens.

Although Goudreau c. Le Roi is not a charity law case, its reasoning may be relevant to charities that use contractual safeguards to manage valuation risk and prevent unintended private benefits.

In-house counsel face critical decisions at the outset of internal investigations that determine the credibility and defensibility of the entire process. This guide examines the strategic questions around scope, privilege protection, external support, and documentation that must be addressed early—often under pressure and before the facts are fully known.

Yes. In Dome Mine Ltd. and USW, Local 7980, 2026 CanLII 78264 (ON LA), an Ontario arbitrator upheld the termination of an employee who refused a valid post-incident drug and alcohol test.

L'OCRI continue d'utiliser des dispenses pour relever les défis pratiques liés à la réglementation des courtiers membres. Les dispenses accordées en 2025 visaient plusieurs domaines récurrents, notamment les activités de négociation, la double inscription, les cryptoactifs, le prêt de titres et l'assurance des compétences, démontrant une approche de réglementation fondée sur des principes et la proportionnalité.

Canada's new Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA) establishes a comprehensive registration regime requiring organizations and individuals to disclose arrangements with foreign principals involving influence activities targeting Canadian political or governmental processes.