Category Archives: Advertising Law

Quebec Amends Publicity Contest Laws Making it Easier to Run Canada Wide Contests

On October 27, 2023, the province of Quebec made significant changes to its rules relating to publicity contests open to Quebec residents. In this regard, it repealed the provisions of its provincial Act respecting lotteries, publicity contests, and amusement machines relating to publicity contests and … Read the rest of this entry »

Canadian Competition Bureau Issues New Competitive Intensity Report

On October 19, 2023, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) released a new study of competitive intensity in Canada between 2000 and 2020 (see: Competition Bureau report finds Canada’s competitive intensity in decline). In announcing its new study (Competition in Canada from 2000 to 2020: An Economy … Read the rest of this entry »

Dufresne Group Settles Ordinary Selling Price (OSP) and Urgency Cue Marketing Case with Competition Bureau For $3.25 Million

On September 27, 2023, the Canadian Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that the Dufresne Group Inc. (TDG) (Dufresne Group), based in Manitoba, had agreed to settle an ordinary selling price (OSP) and urgency cue marketing related case for CDN $3.25 million (see: Competition Bureau, News Release, … Read the rest of this entry »

Competition Bureau Sues Cineplex for Allegedly Misleading Upfront Ticket Prices (Drip Pricing)

On May 18, 2023, the Competition Bureau announced that it was suing Cineplex Inc. (Cineplex) for allegedly advertising misleading ticket prices (see: Competition Bureau sues Cineplex for allegedly advertising misleading ticket prices). The Bureau has alleged, in its civil application to the Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) … Read the rest of this entry »

New Competition Bureau Compliance Portal: Canadian Advertising/Marketing Law Compliance Guidance

In March 2023, Canada’s federal Competition Bureau (Bureau) launched a new competition law Compliance Portal (see: Consultation on new Compliance Portal). In making its announcement, the Bureau said that it launched its new Compliance Portal to help businesses stay on the right side of Canadian … Read the rest of this entry »

Competition Commissioner Argues Key Canadian Markets Are Highly Concentrated and Again Advocates for Stage II Competition Act Amendments

On May 2, 2023, Canada’s Globe and Mail published an opinion by Canada’s Commissioner of Competition (Commissioner), Matthew Boswell, arguing that key Canadian consumer markets are highly concentrated and urging for another new round of Competition Act reform. In this regard, in general, the Commissioner … Read the rest of this entry »

Canadian Telemarketer Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Fraudulent Online Directory Scam

On April 28, 2023, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that Terry Croteau, a Canadian telemarketer, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison and to pay a fine of $1.28 million for running a fraudulent online directory scam (see: here). See also: 30 Months in … Read the rest of this entry »