The Competition Act, 2002

• GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - The Competition Bureau announced today that it has entered into a consent agreement with the Northwest Territories Association of Realtors (NWTAR) to address concerns with its membership practices in the real estate sector.
• The Bureau concluded that the NWTAR's conduct was contrary to the abuse of dominance provisions of the Competition Act.
• NWTAR is a trade association that represents real estate agents and salespeople in the Northwest Territories.
• A consent agreement has the force and effect of a court order once it is registered with the Competition Tribunal.

• In addition, this deepens the strategic partnership between Organigram and BAT, and we look forward to continuing to leverage BAT’s global capabilities and scientific expertise,” said Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram.
• Through this investment, Organigram aims to capitalize on its state-of-the-art facilities, support further workstreams in R&D and product development and deliver impactful product launches.
• The majority of the C$124.6 million investment will be used by Organigram to create a strategic investment pool, named Jupiter.
• Additional information regarding the Investment will be included in a material change report to be filed by Organigram on www.sedarplus.ca .

• The Bureau also found that they made marketing claims to consumers that gave the false or misleading impression that deals on certain products would no longer be available after a certain time, when this was not the case.
• For example, the deal was still available after a countdown timer expired.
• The companies made both types of claims on their websites, in-store and via various advertising channels.
• All businesses in Canada should review their marketing practices and make sure they comply with the law.

• A select few corporations dominate key sectors, leading to reduced competition, rising prices and limited purchase options for consumers.
• A recent report from the Competition Bureau found that a lack of competition in the grocery sector is resulting in higher food prices.
• The grocery industry is dominated by five major players — Loblaws, Metro, Empire (the owner of Sobeys), Walmart and Costco.

History of monopolies

• Canada’s economy has historically been marked by notable monopolies, thanks to its vast geographical expanse and relatively sparse population.
• Entities like the Hudson’s Bay Company and Canadian Pacific Railway company played significant roles in the country’s development.
• This largely happened out of concern that domestic companies would be overwhelmed by American competitors unless they grew significantly.

The Rogers-Shaw merger

• Despite these conditions, some remain skeptical about the impact of the merger on competition in Canada’s telecommunications sector.
• Some critics have argued the merger may lead to higher prices for consumers and less innovation.
• The merger could lead to a dominant market share in Ontario, reducing competition and potentially leading to higher internet prices.

Loopholes in competition law

• The merger has sparked controversy because it exploited weaknesses in Canada’s anti-monopoly law, the Competition Act, to push the deal through.
• As Canada’s competition watchdog, the Competition Bureau can review mergers to determine if they will be harmful to competition.

Challenges and opportunities

• Monopolies have the potential to stifle innovation — a key driver of economic growth, as a lack of competition tends to dampen innovative efforts.
• As Canada embarks on its post-pandemic economic recovery, policymakers must ensure economic resilience and inclusiveness while preventing existing monopoly issues from worsening.