#federal-government

Canada’s Competition Bureau has initiated legal proceedings against Loblaw and Sobeys, alleging the grocery giants use restrictive property controls to stifle competition. The Bureau claims these "restrictive covenants" in lease agreements illegally prevent rival grocers from opening in prime locations, sometimes for decades. This action, filed with the Competition Tribunal, seeks to end the practice and invalidate existing clauses. It represents a major regulatory challenge amid heightened public scrutiny over food inflation and market concentration, potentially reshaping the landscape for grocery retail and consumer choice across the country.

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.

The federal government has initiated a formal parliamentary inquiry into the Canadian grocery sector, responding to intense public pressure over soaring food prices and concerns about market concentration. The probe will scrutinize the business practices, profit margins, and competitive landscape dominated by a few major players, including Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro. This inquiry runs parallel to ongoing investigations by the Competition Bureau into alleged anti-competitive behaviour. The outcome could lead to significant legislative reforms, including a mandatory code of conduct and amendments to the Competition Act, aiming to increase transparency and affordability for Canadian consumers.

Canada's Competition Bureau has intensified its investigation into the country's major grocery retailers, obtaining court orders to compel parent companies George Weston Ltd. and Empire Company Ltd. to produce records. The probe focuses on alleged anti-competitive practices, specifically the use of 'property controls' or restrictive covenants in lease agreements that may be used to stifle competition and keep food prices high. This move signals a significant escalation in the federal government's efforts to address soaring food inflation and scrutinize the conduct of dominant players in Canada's highly concentrated grocery market.

Canada's Competition Bureau is intensifying its investigation into the country's major grocery retailers, seeking court orders to compel them to produce documents related to allegations of anti-competitive practices. The probe focuses on whether dominant players like Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro have engaged in conduct that stifles competition and inflates food prices for consumers. This move comes amid persistent public and political pressure over the rising cost of living. The Bureau's actions could lead to significant fines and structural changes in the highly concentrated Canadian grocery market, signaling a tougher regulatory stance.

Canada is proceeding with its Digital Services Tax (DST), a 3% levy on revenue earned in Canada by large digital corporations, despite escalating threats of retaliatory tariffs from the United States. The U.S. government argues the tax unfairly targets American tech giants and is preparing potential countermeasures. The Canadian government defends the tax as a matter of fairness, ensuring that companies profiting from Canadian users contribute their fair share. This standoff places significant strain on Canada-U.S. trade relations and could have wide-ranging economic consequences for key Canadian export sectors if tariffs are imposed.

The Federal Court of Appeal has reinstated the Canadian government's ban on certain single-use plastics, overturning a 2023 Federal Court ruling that deemed it unconstitutional. The decision restores the government's authority to prohibit items like plastic bags, straws, and cutlery by listing them as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This ruling marks a significant victory for the federal government's environmental agenda but is a major setback for plastics manufacturers who challenged the ban. The legal battle may continue, as the industry coalition could seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Federal Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court decision, reinstating the Canadian government's ban on single-use plastics. In a 2-1 decision, the court found that listing plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) falls within Ottawa's constitutional authority to manage pollution under its criminal law power. This ruling reverses a November 2023 Federal Court decision that deemed the ban unconstitutional and an overreach into provincial jurisdiction. The judgment is a significant victory for the federal government's environmental agenda but may face a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Government of Canada has officially launched its comprehensive National AI Strategy, a multi-year plan designed to solidify the country's position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The strategy focuses on three core pillars: accelerating AI adoption and commercialization, fostering a world-class talent pipeline, and establishing robust ethical and legal frameworks. With significant new investments aimed at boosting computational capacity and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, Ottawa aims to drive productivity, create high-value jobs, and ensure AI development aligns with Canadian values of trust, safety, and transparency.