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May 2, 2014

The Canadian Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced earlier today that criminal charges have been laid in a federal government IT contract-related bid-rigging case. According to the Bureau, the charges relate to allegations that an IT services company, its former owner and several former employees, as well as several former federal government employees were involved in an illegal bid-rigging arrangement relating to the provision of IT services to Library and Archives Canada.

Several takeaways from this announcement include: the fact that bid-rigging remains an enforcement priority for the Bureau; highlighting that the Bureau continues to rely on its Immunity and Leniency Programs to detect and enforce criminal violations (and potential violations) of the Competition Act; and also suggesting that the Bureau intends to follow through on recent announcements to more consistently pursue penalties against individuals.

Also interesting, along the lines of the U.S. DoJ’s recent extradition of a foreign citizen to Florida in the marine hose cartel case, the Bureau today also suggested that it too has an appetite to pursue accused outside Canada: “The Bureau will not hesitate to take action against alleged bid-riggers when it uncovers evidence that suggests they may have broken the law, including those outside our jurisdiction”.

For more information about Canada’s federal bid-rigging offences, the Bureau’s Immunity and Leniency Programs and competition law compliance see: bid-rigging, Competition Bureau Immunity and Leniency Programs and competition law compliance programs.

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