#consumer-protection

The Canadian federal government is implementing significant amendments to the Competition Act through Bill C-59, marking the most substantial overhaul of the country's competition law in over a decade. The changes grant the Competition Bureau new powers to conduct market studies, challenge anti-competitive practices, and crack down on deceptive marketing like drip pricing and greenwashing. With a strong focus on the highly concentrated grocery sector, the reforms aim to increase transparency, foster greater competition, and ultimately provide relief to Canadian consumers facing persistently high food prices.

The Canadian government has enacted the most significant overhaul of the Competition Act in decades, aiming to curb corporate concentration and alleviate cost-of-living pressures. The amendments grant the Competition Bureau enhanced powers to investigate anti-competitive practices, block mergers that harm consumers, and tackle issues like drip pricing and restrictive property controls in the grocery sector. Driven by public frustration over soaring prices in key industries like groceries and telecommunications, these reforms represent a fundamental shift in Canada's approach to market regulation, prioritizing consumer welfare and small business opportunities.