Cassels On Competition Special Edition - Sweeping And Fundamental Legislative Changes To Canadian Competition Law

There has been a torrent of competition law-related developments in Canada since October when the federal government announced a first set of amendments to the Competition Act (the Act) in Bill C-56, the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act.

In order to fast track the enactment of Bill C-56, the minority Liberal government recently agreed to adopt certain amendments to the Act proposed by their coalition partners – the New Democratic Party – (the NDP Amendments), including:

• Important Safeguard Removed from Market Studies Provision: Previously, Bill C-56 required the Commissioner of Competition to obtain approval from the Minister of Industry before initiating a market study. The NDP Amendments will give the Commissioner the unilateral power to initiate market studies;