Category Archives: New legislation

June 21, 2024

Sweeping Canadian Competition Act Amendments (Bill C-59) Passed June 20, 2024

On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59 was passed, introducing the second of two recent significant rounds of amendments to Canada’s federal Competition Act (the first round introduced by Bill C-56). This new round of amendments to the Competition Act completes a sweeping overhaul of Canada’s Competition Act across virtually all key provisions of … Read the rest of this entry »

May 16, 2024

Significant Proposed Deceptive Marketing Law Amendments to the Competition Act Under Bill C-59

RECENT AND PROPOSED COMPETITION ACT AMENDMENTS (BILLS C-56 AND C-59) On December 15, 2023, Bill C-56 (An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act), which introduced the first of two new significant rounds of amendments to the federal Competition Act, largely came into force. … Read the rest of this entry »

May 16, 2024

New Competition Bureau Drip Pricing Guidance

On May 15, 2024, the Canadian Competition Bureau issued new guidance on drip pricing under the federal Competition Act (see: The Ambush of Hidden Fees). In making the announcement, the Competition Bureau said: “Saving money can be challenging these days. Especially when you are buying … Read the rest of this entry »

November 2, 2023

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 In this regard, it repealed the provisions of its provincial Act respecting lotteries, publicity contests, and amusement machines relating to publicity contests and … Read the rest of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 »

October 18, 2023

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 »

May 19, 2023

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 »

May 17, 2023

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 »

April 17, 2023

New Competition Bureau Guidance on Drip Pricing Advertising Claims

On April 17, 2023 the Competition Bureau (Bureau) published a new edition of its Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 6) (Marketing Digest). The Bureau’s new Marketing Digest discusses three Canadian advertising/marketing related topics: the use of scarcity cues (i.e., claims that an offering has limited availability), … Read the rest of this entry »