Canada Competition Bureau Guidance on Agreements Between Competitors
Summary
The Canada Competition Bureau has published guidance on bid-rigging, price-fixing, and other agreements between competitors. The guidance aims to help businesses understand common types of illegal agreements and how to report suspected wrongdoing.
What changed
The Canada Competition Bureau has issued guidance detailing common types of illegal agreements between competitors, such as price-fixing, market allocation, supply restriction, and bid-rigging. The document also outlines procedures for reporting suspected illegal agreements and details incentives for cooperation with investigations, including immunity and leniency programs. It further addresses other agreements that may harm competition under civil provisions and provides specific information on retail gasoline prices and a collusion risk assessment tool for procurement agents.
This guidance is intended to educate businesses on what constitutes anti-competitive behavior and how to avoid it. Companies engaged in competitor collaborations should review the guidance to ensure compliance with the Competition Act. While this document does not impose new legal obligations, it serves as an informational resource for understanding and preventing anti-competitive practices. There are no immediate compliance deadlines or penalties mentioned, but adherence to competition law is expected.
What to do next
- Review guidance on common types of illegal agreements between competitors.
- Familiarize with reporting procedures for suspected anti-competitive practices.
- Understand the immunity and leniency programs for cooperation with investigations.
Source document (simplified)
Bid-rigging, price-fixing and other agreements between competitors
Many types of agreements between competitors can enhance competition and benefit the economy. However, certain agreements can significantly harm competition and are against the law.
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Contact us
Most requested
- Competitor Collaboration Guidelines
- Immunity and Leniency Programs under the Competition Act
- Report cheating in federal government contracts
Services and information
Common types of illegal agreements
Learn to recognize and prevent criminal offences like price-fixing, market allocation, restricting supply, and bid-rigging.
Reporting illegal agreements
Learn how to report suspected wrongdoing, and the protections available to you as a whistleblower or as a participant in an illegal agreement.
Incentives for cooperating with an investigation
Learn about the programs that offer immunity from prosecution or lenient treatment to those who cooperate with the Bureau’s investigations.
Other agreements that may harm competition
Learn how competitors can collaborate without harming competition, and how the Bureau reviews agreements under the civil (non-criminal) provisions of the Competition Act.
Agreements between companies to protect the environment
Learn how businesses considering collaborating to protect the environment can apply for an advance certificate from the Bureau.
Retail gasoline prices
Learn how the Bureau investigates price-fixing and protects competition in the gasoline sector.
Collusion risk assessment tool for procurement agents
Use our interactive online tool to gain an early warning about potential risks of bid-rigging, as well as mitigation strategies to minimize those risks.
Cases and outcomes
Instances of illegal agreements and their outcomes
Date modified:
2025-06-09
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