Greenwashing, Mergers And Controls: Key Changes To Canada's Competition Act That Impact Businesses

Canada's economic landscape continues to evolve, and with it, the legal framework designed to promote fair competition. In June 2024, significant amendments to the Competition Act, RSC 1985, c C-34 (the Act) came into force, marking the third set of reforms in as many years. These amendments stem from the government's attempts to adapt Canadian competition laws to address the challenges posed by an increasingly complex and dynamic marketplace.

At a high level, the 2024 changes to the Act significantly strengthen Canada's competition law framework by enhancing merger control, expanding enforcement against anti-competitive agreements, and increasing the focus on deceptive marketing practices. These amendments also broaden access for private parties to bring cases to the Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal), introduce steeper penalties for civil violations, and empower the Competition Bureau (the Bureau) to conduct more proactive market studies.