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ARTICLE · 13 MAY 2008

Proposed Amendments To The Competition Act Receive Second Reading

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On April 28, 2008, Bill C-454, An Act to amend the Competition Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, received second reading in the House of Commons and was referred to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law
Blakes Competition & Antitrust Group
Blakes Competition & Antitrust Group
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Copyright 2008, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Originally published in Blakes Bulletin on Competition Law May, 2008

On April 28, 2008, Bill C-454, An Act to amend the Competition Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, received second reading in the House of Commons and was referred to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. The bill was introduced by Roger Gaudet, a member of the Bloc Québécois and the Member of Parliament for Montcalm, Québec, on June 7, 2007.

Significant aspects of the proposed amendments to the Competition Act include the following:

  • The requirement that a conspiracy "unduly" prevent or lessen competition would be removed, and a defence would be added for agreements that are reasonably necessary to attain gains in efficiency or encourage innovation. The maximum fine under the conspiracy provision would be

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