The current COVID-19 crisis is having a significant impact on
businesses all across Canada. Tough times often call for creative
solutions, and sometimes such creative solutions may involve
collaboration with your competitors. However, one person's
creative collaboration can be another person's conspiracy. The
pressure of changing circumstances, and of financial hardship, can
sometimes drive fast and aggressive decisions. But, competition
laws continue to operate during times of crisis.
The Canadian Competition Bureau, as well as enforcement agencies
around the world, reminded the business community of this at the
time of the 2008/09 recession. Similarly, the Commissioner of
Competition issued a statement on March 20, 2020, reiterating that
the Competition Bureau "remains vigilant against potentially
harmful anti-competitive conduct by those who may seek to take
advantage of consumers and businesses during these extraordinary
circumstances", including collusion by
