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ARTICLE · 03 OCTOBER 2023

Bill C-56 Proposes New Amendments To The Competition Act

On September 21, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced Bill C-56 in Parliament...

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law

On September 21, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced Bill C-56 in Parliament, which includes amendments to the Competition Act (the Act).1 Prior to the introduction of the bill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the forthcoming amendments were designed to "enhance competition across the Canadian economy, with a focus on the grocery sector, which would help drive down costs for middle-class Canadians."2

Key amendments to the Act

The key proposed amendments to the Act include:

  1. Formal market study powers: Bill C-56 will provide the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (the Minister) authority to direct the Competition Bureau (the Bureau) to conduct market studies in the "public interest." Any such market study could not last longer than 18 months unless authorized by the Minister. To support these studies, the Bureau would be able to seek a court order to compel parties to produce information. At

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