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ARTICLE · 06 MAY 2022

Canadian Competition Act Reform: First Round Of Significant Amendments

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On April 26, 2022, the Government of Canada announced proposed amendments to the Competition Act as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022.

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law
Adam Kalbfleisch
Adam Kalbfleisch
Christina Skinner
Christina Skinner
Randal Hughes
Randal Hughes
Melanie Aitken
Melanie Aitken
Emrys Davis
Emrys Davis
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On April 26, 2022, the Government of Canada announced proposed amendments to the Competition Act as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022. These proposed amendments are likely the first step in the Federal Government's announced plan to conduct a comprehensive reform of the Competition Act to improve its effectiveness in promoting dynamic and fair markets, especially in light of the challenges of the modern economy.1

The proposed amendments would greatly expand the scope of the Competition Act, a move that is in line with the global trend towards stricter penalties and enhanced enforcement of competition/antitrust laws. The amendments in part reflect stated efforts to meet the demands of the modern, digital economy and to strengthen the enforcement of the Competition Act. So far, the proposed amendments do not address all of the concerns identified by the Government, the Competition Bureau and stakeholders, and we expect additional reviews, consultations

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