Archive for August, 2010
August 12, 2010
The Chronicle Herald has reported that some Nova Scotia automobile dealers recently received a reminder from their trade association regarding the conspiracy rules under the federal Competition Act. According to the Executive Vice-president of the Nova Scotia Automobile Dealers Association, the association wanted to “make sure that [its] members know this legislation exists.”
August 12, 2010
The Saskatchewan Roofing Contractors case involved an inquiry by Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) that was focused on allegations that some of the members of the Saskatchewan Roofing Contractors Association had discussed not submitting bids in reply for a tender request for a roofing project in La Loche Saskatchewan.
August 11, 2010
In 2000, the Notaries Association of Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to fix the prices of real estate services offered by notaries in several regions of Quebec.
August 10, 2010
To be published in an all Canadian edition of Competition Policy International’s Antitrust Chronicle.
On February 8, 2010, the Canadian Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) filed an abuse of dominance application against one of Canada’s largest single industry trade associations – The Canadian Real Estate Association (“CREA”).[1]
August 9, 2010
COMPETITION LAW PRIVATE ACTIONS
Significant changes have recently been made to the federal Competition Act (the “Act”) that impact private actions in Canada (making it easier for private plaintiffs to commence private actions under the Act’s criminal conspiracy provisions). At the same time, there have recently been several plaintiff-favourable class action decisions in Ontario and British Columbia that make it easier to certify competition law class actions. The combined result of these recent developments is that competition law private actions are now of more importance to plaintiffs seeking remedies for anti-competitive conduct under the Act. At the same time, there appears appears to be an increasing number of private and class actions currently being commenced in Canada.
August 9, 2010
In R. v. Bayda & Associates Surveys Inc., Alberta land surveyors were accused of fixing the minimum price of real estate survey reports. In this case, real estate agents testified that survey firms were charging identical prices, customers were told that prices were fixed (and that no discounts would be provided) and surveyors had attended meetings where costs and price increases were discussed.
August 8, 2010
In R. v. Alberta Ambulance Operators’ Association, rules and activities of the Alberta Ambulance Operators’ Association discouraged or prevented member ambulance operators from competing in territories that were already being serviced by other association members.
August 7, 2010
In a decision late last month, the Supreme Court of British Columbia struck out Novus Entertainment’s claims against Shaw Cablesystems based on the abuse of dominance provisions of the Competition Act.
Templates/precedents and checklists to run promotional contests in Canada
Templates/precedents and checklists to comply with Canadian anti-spam law (CASL)
