Council Reports

March 30, 2023 – Reforms to Canada’s Competition Act must be evidence-based and homegrown, and are only the start of the conversation on promoting Canada’s competitiveness, according to a new Communiqué from the C.D. Howe Institute Competition Policy Council.

Released in response to the federal government’s discussion paper on reforms to the Competition Act, the Council’s 24th Communiqué emphasizes the need for caution before departing from established Canadian law and process – urging the government to rely on evidence demonstrating the need for change, instead of mimicking developments in competition law and policy in foreign jurisdictions that are still untested.

Referencing how the EU Digital…

June 9 – The government missed key opportunities to consult with various constituencies affected by proposed amendments to the Competition Act in the Budget Implementation Act. While agreeing with Minister Champagne regarding the critical role of the Competition Act in promoting dynamic and fair markets, the Competition Policy Council does not think that such consequential changes to the legislation intended to improve its operation can, or should be, done without input from stakeholders. In all cases, the Council is of the view that greater consultation before implementing the changes would, and still could, improve them to the betterment of Canadians and the Canadian economy. This is the consensus of the C.D. Howe Institute…

April 28, 2022 – The C.D. Howe Institute Competition Policy Council supports the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry’s recent statement that “competition in the economy is the driving force behind innovation, efficiency and adaptability.”

However, in “Bring on the Competition: Reforming Canada’s Competition Act,” the Council’s 22nd report, it cautions that rushed amendments to the Competition Act without careful consideration and thoughtful debate could have unintended consequences for these forces in the Canadian economy. “Even perceived shortcomings in the Competition Act may not easily be addressed without unintended consequences,” according to the Council’s latest Communiqué.

Notably…