Amendments To Canada´s Competition Laws

Significant amendments to Canada's competition and foreign investment laws passed third reading in the Senate and received royal assent late yesterday. The new provisions entail some of the most significant adjustments to Canada's competition laws in over two decades and among other changes will transform the merger review process and introduce a new per se criminal conspiracy offence. A more detailed summary of the changes can be found in our recent note, available here.

The majority of the competition and investment law changes come into effect immediately. The new conspiracy provisions, including consequential amendments to the Criminal Code related to conspiracies, come into force one year after royal assent.