Archive for the 'Associations' Category
February 18, 2026
On February 17, 2026, Canada’s federal Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued a News Release warning consumers to be careful when entering promotional contests (and by implication for contest sponsors to ensure that they comply with the Competition Act) (see: Promotional Contests: Businesses Owe Consumers Honest Information).
In general, the Bureau warned consumers to be cautious of contests that lack transparency or require unnecessary steps to access the details of a contest. The Bureau also cautioned contest sponsors not to make any false or misleading claims about their contests.
August 17, 2025
On August 14, 2025, Canada’s federal Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that it had issued new guidance for companies and others to develop competition law compliance programs (see: “Develop a compliance program for your business in 10 easy steps!”).
In general, the Bureau has published on its Compliance Bootcamp web page videos describing competition law compliance programs, its recommended ten steps to develop a credible and effective compliance program and recommendations to comply with many of the core criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act including abuse of dominance (sections 78 and 79), bid-rigging (section 47), deceptive marketing (under Parts VI and VII.1), exclusive dealing / tied selling / market restriction (section 77), mergers (Parts VIII and IX), price-fixing (section 45), refusal to deal (section 75), price maintenance (section 76) and wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements (section 45(1.1)).
June 26, 2025
On June 25, 2025, Canada’s Competition Bureau issued a News Release warning landlords and property managers not to engage in criminal conspiracy agreements under the federal Competition Act (see: Landlords and property managers: agreeing with competitors on rental prices is illegal).
In making the announcement, the Competition Bureau said:
“The Competition Bureau is aware that some landlords and property managers may be engaging with their competitors, including through discussion groups on social media.
While some discussions between competitors may be justified, others could be illegal. Landlords and property managers must understand the difference between conversations that are harmless and conversations that they should steer clear from.
Agreements between landlords to ‘make the most of the booming rental housing market’ or ‘find ways to ensure that all players benefit from the strong demand equally’ raise concerns under the law and could be illegal.”
The Competition Bureau cautioned real estate landlords and property managers that it was illegal under the conspiracy provisions of the Competition Act (section 45) to enter into agreements relating to rental prices (including increases or surcharges), the terms of leases (including amenities and services) or restricting the housing supply by artificially reducing the availability of rental units.
June 5, 2025
OVERVIEW OF JUNE 20, 2024
COMPETITION ACT AMENDMENTS
On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59 was passed (the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023), which introduced the third of three significant rounds of amendments to Canada’s federal Competition Act in two years (together with Bill C-19 and Bill C-56). For more information, see: Competition Act Amendments.
The June 2024 round of amendments to the Competition Act completed a sweeping overhaul of the Competition Act across virtually all key provisions of Canada’s competition legislation. These amendments were also the most significant changes to Canadian competition law since the modern Competition Act came into effect in 1986 replacing the former Combines Investigation Act.
The Bill C-59 amendments, among other things, strengthened the Competition Bureau’s powers to enforce key deceptive marketing provisions of the Competition Act (e.g., relating to drip pricing, performance claims and ordinary selling price (OSP) claims), strengthened private party rights to seek Competition Tribunal remedies (e.g., for civil deceptive marketing and violations of the civil agreements provisions of the Act), introduced new penalties (e.g., administrative monetary penalties for violating the civil agreements provisions of the Act and for reprisal actions penalizing individuals for complying with the Act) and introduced a new clearance regime for environmental protection related agreements.
OVERVIEW OF THE NEW
ENVIRONMENT-RELATED PERFORMANCE CLAIMS
PROVISIONS UNDER THE COMPETITION ACT
In addition to the above amendments passed on June 20, 2024, two specific new environment-related performance claims provisions were added to Canada’s Competition Act relating to product-related environmental claims (section 74.01(1)(b.1)) and business-related environmental claims (section 74.01(1)(b.2)) (discussed in more detail below).
These two new environment-related performance claim provisions were added to the already existing general standalone civil provision of the Competition Act that prohibits product performance claims that are not based on an “adequate and proper test” (section 74.01(1)(b)). In this regard, the Competition Act prohibits representations made to the public, in the form of a statement, warranty or guarantee, of the performance, efficacy or length of life of a product that is not based on an adequate and proper test, the proof of which lies on the person making the claim.
For more information about performance claims under Canada’s Competition Act, see: Performance Claims.
July 9, 2024
OVERVIEW OF BILL C-59 AMENDMENTS
TO THE COMPETITION ACT
On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59 was passed, which introduced the third of three recent significant rounds of amendments to Canada’s federal Competition Act (together with amendments that were passed in June 2022 and December 2023).
July 5, 2024
OVERVIEW OF BILL C-59 AMENDMENTS
TO THE COMPETITION ACT
On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59 was passed, which introduced the third of three recent significant rounds of amendments to Canada’s federal Competition Act (together with amendments that were passed in June 2022 and December 2023).
July 1, 2024
OVERVIEW OF BILL C-59 AMENDMENTS
TO THE COMPETITION ACT
On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59 was passed, which introduced the third of three recent significant rounds of amendments to Canada’s federal Competition Act (together with amendments that were passed in June 2022 and December 2023).
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 Canada’s competition legislation. These amendments are also the most significant changes to Canadian competition law since the modern Competition Act came into effect in 1986 replacing the former Combines Investigation Act.
Templates/precedents and checklists to run promotional contests in Canada
Templates/precedents and checklists to comply with Canadian anti-spam law (CASL)
