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ARTICLE · 30 MAY 2024

Amendments To The Competition Act: Implications For The Grocery Sector

Sotos LLP
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Competition (or the lack of it) in the grocery sector has been in the news a lot in the past few years. More than 80% of Canadians believe that large grocery chains are engaged in "greedflation" (link).

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law
John Sotos
John Sotos
Adil Abdulla
Adil Abdulla
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Competition (or the lack of it) in the grocery sector has been in the news a lot in the past few years. More than 80% of Canadians believe that large grocery chains are engaged in "greedflation" (link). Whether or not that is correct, the government has responded:

  • In June 2023, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food published "Grocery Affordability: Examining Rising Costs in Canada"(the "House of Commons Report").
  • In July 2023, the Competition Bureau published a market study tellingly titled "Canada Needs More Grocery Competition"(the "Market Study").
  • In September 2023, the government proposed the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act ("Bill C-56"), which includes amendments to the Competition Act. It received royal assent and will come into effect on December 15, 2024.

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