Competition Bureau Canada

Competition Bureau Reaches Agreement with Chartwell

The Competition Bureau has reached a consent agreement with Chartwell Master Care LP to address competition concerns regarding its proposed acquisition of six retirement homes. Chartwell has agreed to sell one retirement home to preserve competition in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario area.

Competition Tribunal Dismisses Google's Constitutional Challenge

The Competition Tribunal has dismissed Google's constitutional challenge against the Competition Bureau's abuse of dominance litigation. The Tribunal affirmed its authority to impose administrative monetary penalties. The underlying case against Google regarding anti-competitive conduct in online advertising continues.

Canada Pre-Merger Notification Threshold Remains $93M for 2026

The Canadian Minister of Industry has decided to keep the pre-merger notification threshold at $93 million for 2026. This means transactions where the acquired company's Canadian assets or revenues exceed $93 million will continue to require advance notice to the Competition Bureau, provided the combined parties' assets or revenues exceed $400 million.

Competition Bureau Expands Real Estate Commission Rules Investigation

The Competition Bureau has expanded its investigation into real estate commission rules to include Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), seeking a court order to gather information. The probe examines whether GVR and the Canadian Real Estate Association's commission rules violate the Competition Act by potentially discouraging competition or leading to higher costs for buyers and sellers.

Competition Bureau Guidance on Promotional Contest Transparency

The Competition Bureau of Canada has issued guidance reminding businesses and influencers that promotional contests must provide honest and transparent information to consumers. Key details such as prize value, regional allocation, purchase requirements, and winner selection methods must be clearly disclosed.

Canada Merger Review Process and Guidelines

The Competition Bureau of Canada has updated its guidance and information related to the merger review process. The page provides details on the Bureau's authority to review mergers, links to key documents such as the Merger Enforcement Guidelines, and information on concluded merger reviews.

Canada Competition Bureau Guidance on Agreements Between Competitors

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.

Competition Bureau Report on Algorithmic Pricing Feedback

The Competition Bureau of Canada has published a report summarizing public feedback on algorithmic pricing and competition. The report highlights key themes from over 100 submissions regarding market efficiencies, anticompetitive behavior, data transparency, and the need for balanced regulation.

Competition Bureau Statement on Cineplex Drip Pricing Ruling

The Competition Bureau Canada issued a statement following the Federal Court of Appeal's decision to uphold a ruling against Cineplex for deceptive marketing practices related to drip pricing. The court dismissed Cineplex's appeal, reinforcing the Bureau's stance against hidden fees and affirming transparency for consumers.

Competition Bureau Merger Reviews Update

The Competition Bureau has updated its report of concluded merger reviews, changing the update frequency to weekly and including ongoing reviews. The report now details transactions commenced and completed in the previous week, covering pre-merger notifications, advance ruling certificate requests, and non-notifiable transaction reviews.