CAMP Statement on the NDP's proposed amendments to the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act

September 19, 2023

Today the federal NDP released the text of their bill, C-352 or the Lowering Prices for Canadians Act, aiming to reform Canada’s Competition Act and Competition Act. Highlights of the proposed legislation include:

• Giving the Competition Bureau the ability to study and report on competition issues in markets
• Introducing structural presumptions against mergers in already concentrated markets
• Expanding abuse of dominance provisions to deter anticompetitive conduct by dominant corporations

In response, the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project released the following statement.

“It is very encouraging to see the NDP propose such a strong set of reforms to Canada’s competition laws,” said Keldon Bester, Executive Director of the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project. “The NDP are proposing comprehensive reforms to our law that will help deter harmful mergers and anticompetitive conduct in our economy. No party has a monopoly on building an effective competition law for Canadians, and we appreciate the NDP’s contribution. We are glad to see political parties competing to make life more affordable for Canadians.”