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ARTICLE · 08 OCTOBER 2026

Price Check: Competition Bureau Puts MAP Policies On The Grocery List

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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.

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law
Alysha Manji-Knight
Alysha Manji-Knight
Christopher Hersh
Christopher Hersh
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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.

A MAP policy sets the lowest price at which a retailer may advertise a product. A retailer may still be able to sell below the MAP price, but it cannot advertise that lower price in flyers, websites, apps, social media, or other advertising.

What Is the Bureau Worried About?

According to the Bureau, MAP policies may:

  • make lower prices harder for shoppers to find and compare;

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