April 14, 2020
My new Canadian Lawyer column discusses recent price gouging and deceptive marketing law enforcement in Canada. Some of the issues raised include speed of enforcement, political statements in light of actual enforcement and transparency in relation to warnings and penalties. My new column compares enforcement efforts in Canada – both at the provincial and federal levels – with the United States. Below is an excerpt with a link to my full column.
COVID-19 Consumer Protection Enforcement: A Tale of Two Countries
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began escalating in Canada and the United States in March, consumer protection and competition/antitrust agencies also increased their enforcement of local and federal advertising laws.
Misleading claims, unfounded performance claims and price gouging for essential COVID-19-related consumer products are now key priorities for governments and enforcement agencies.
For example, in Canada the provincial government of Ontario issued an order on March 28 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act prohibiting retailers and those who do not normally sell necessary goods from price gouging (selling at “unconscionable prices”) in relation to, among other things, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves, disinfecting agents, soap and paper products.
For my full column, see: here.
********************
SERVICES AND CONTACT
We are a Toronto based competition and advertising law firm offering business and individual clients efficient and strategic advice in relation to competition/antitrust, advertising, Internet and new media law and contest law. We also offer competition and regulatory law compliance, education and policy services to companies, trade and professional associations and government agencies.
Our experience includes advising clients in Toronto, Canada and the United States on the application of Canadian competition and regulatory laws and we have worked on hundreds of domestic and cross-border competition, advertising and marketing, promotional contest (sweepstakes), conspiracy (cartel), abuse of dominance, compliance, refusal to deal and pricing and distribution matters. For more information about our competition and advertising law services see: competition law services.
To contact us about a potential legal matter, see: contact
For more information about our firm, visit our website: Competitionlawyer.ca