Merger Review In Canada: What Businesses Should Know

More particularly, the Plaintiff had argued that the drip pricing provision in subsection 52(1.3) of the Competition Act requires “all-inclusive pricing” and forbids all forms of “fragmented or segmented pricing,” and that Ticketmaster’s partitioned price representations are thus prohibited as a criminal conduct and amount to false or misleading representations covered by the criminal misleading advertising provision in section 52

The Competition Bureau of Canada has entered into a consent agreement with Empire Company Limited, parent of major grocery chains including Sobeys and Safeway, restricting the company's use of property controls that limit competition. This agreement prohibits Empire from enforcing certain restrictive covenants and exclusivity clauses that prevent other grocers from operating nearby, despite Empire's earlier voluntary commitments. The Bureau's action signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of property control

This comprehensive guide examines the pre-merger notification requirements under Canada's Competition Act, providing essential information for parties considering transactions that may trigger mandatory filing obligations. The guide outlines the thresholds, procedures, and compliance considerations that businesses must navigate when planning mergers and acquisitions in the Canadian market.

Minimum advertised pricing (MAP) policies have come under the Competition Bureau’s microscope. The Bureau announced on September 28, 2026, that it has launched an investigation into whether MAP policies in the grocery sector are limiting competition among grocers and keeping lower prices out of reach for consumers.

On September 24, 2026, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced it had entered into a consent agreement with Kalibrate Canada Inc. (Kalibrate) to address concerns regarding Kalibrate’s collection and distribution of detailed retail fuel data through its Kalibrate Market Intelligence product (KMI). More broadly, the matter signals the Bureau’s willingness to challenge information-sharing arrangements under multiple provisions of the Competition Act (Act), including through abuse of dominance where the intermediary itself is alleged to be dominant.

To address these concerns, Sherwin-Willaims is required under the consent agreement to sell Valspar's assets related to industrial wood coatings in Canada and the U.S. to Axalta Coating Systems Ltd....

Loblaw Companies Limited agreed to sell 18 retail stores and 9 pharmacies, as well as to abide by certain behavioural restrictions, in order to receive Competition Bureau approval of its acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation. Loblaw entered into a consent agreement with the Bureau on March 21, following the Bureau’s review of the proposed acquisition.

The September 2026 issue of Blakes Competitive Edge examines recent developments in Canadian competition and foreign investment law, including the Competition Bureau's application to block a major food industry acquisition and new national security reviews under the Investment Canada Act.

In today's enforcement climate, it is critical that businesses adopt and adhere to a competition law compliance policy that accords with the Competition Bureau's 2015 bulletin on Corporate Compliance Programs.

McKesson's other proposed acquisition of Uniprix will also be reviewed by the Bureau.

Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy marks a significant shift in federal AI policy, moving away from standalone legislation toward a comprehensive framework that emphasizes privacy reform, data sovereignty, and business adoption. The Strategy outlines six interconnected pillars designed to position Canada as a global AI leader while addressing regulatory gaps through existing legal frameworks and new policy tools.

A recent decision of the Ontario Energy Board addressed a series of issues arising from the acquisition and renovation of a building for office and storage purposes by Milton Hydro Distribution Inc...

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) represents a transformative opportunity for Canada-Japan trade relations, with Japanese foreign direct investment in Canada reaching $54.8 billion as of 2025. This free trade agreement between Canada and 11 Pacific economies eliminates customs duties and streamlines market entry processes, creating significant advantages for international businesses seeking to expand into the Canadian market.

What are the essential requirements for franchise disclosure documents in Ontario? Jennifer Shayko breaks down the key legal obligations franchisors must meet when preparing disclosure documents under the Arthur Wishart Act, covering content requirements, delivery methods, and critical timing considerations that can impact franchise agreements.

As artificial intelligence adoption surges across Canadian enterprises—from 6.1% to 19.2% in just two years—the infrastructure demands are creating unprecedented opportunities in AI data centre development. Meta's $13-billion Alberta facility signals Canada's emergence as a major player, but what legal and commercial complexities must lenders, sponsors and investors navigate in this capital-intensive asset class?

This quarter's Ontario class action decisions reveal evolving judicial approaches to parallel proceedings, individual action stays, and the predominance test. Courts examined novel duty-to-recall...

Jennifer Shayko, Max Skrow, and Sonali Ravi are featured authors at Aird & Berlis LLP, a prominent Canadian law firm. Their professional profiles and expertise are showcased through their headshots and biographical information on the firm's website. Learn more about these legal professionals and their respective practice areas.

Ontario is moving forward with its planned sale of up to 60% of its interest in Hydro One.

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended the implementation of U.S. Men's National Team player Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension following a controversial red card, allowing him to play in a crucial World Cup Round of 16 match. The decision has sparked intense debate about FIFA's disciplinary framework, the scope of its discretion under the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and the administration of justice in high-profile international competitions.

The field of behavioural economics is a fascinating one and it has helped shed light on the many ways in which humans act irrationally.