Canadian Competition Bureau Steps Up Enforcement Efforts, Including First CASL-Related Proceeding

Although Canada's Competition Bureau (Bureau) has been focused the past year on enhancing its advocacy and competition compliance roles, the Bureau has also demonstrated its continued willingness to use formal investigative powers and litigation to effect compliance with the Competition Act, particularly in relation to the misleading advertising and abuse of dominance provisions.

This month, the Bureau reached a settlement with one of the parties in the premium text messaging case following an agreement to provide over C$5-million in refunds to current and former customers.

A lawsuit also filed this month against two rental car companies highlights the Bureau's continued focus on price advertising as does its recent inquiry into two department stores for the making of ordinary selling price claims. None of the allegations against these companies have been proven in court.