Important amendments to the Competition Act come into effect

June 24, 2022 – GATINEAU, QC – Competition Bureau

Competition Bureau will host public information sessions and publish updated guidance for businesses

Important amendments to the Competition Act became law on June 23, 2022, strengthening the Competition Bureau’s ability to protect Canadian consumers, businesses and workers from anti-competitive conduct.

Notably, these amendments:

• increase maximum fines and penalties for those who break the law;
• prohibit wage-fixing and no-poach agreements between employers;
• clarify that incomplete price disclosure—drip pricing—is a deceptive marketing practice;
• allow private access to the Competition Tribunal for those impacted by abuse of dominance; and
• enable more effective enforcement in today’s digital economy.

The amendments come into effect immediately, with the exception of the changes to the criminal conspiracy provision, which increase potential fines and prohibit wage-fixing and no-poach agreements. These changes will come into effect next year on June 23, 2023. This allows businesses time to ensure they are in compliance with the law.

For more information about the amendments and their impact, please consult the Bureau’s Guide to the 2022 amendments to the Competition Act.

The Bureau will host public online information sessions in the coming weeks to further inform stakeholders about the new provisions of the Competition Act. An announcement regarding the dates of the information sessions will follow soon.

The Bureau will also work with stakeholders to implement the amendments in the most open and effective way possible. This will include reviewing and updating the Bureau’s enforcement guidance to ensure transparency and predictability for the business and legal communities.