The Competition Bureau
Encyclopedia
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency
that ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace .
Headed by the Commissioner of Competition, the Bureau is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act
, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.
The basic operating assumption of the Competition Bureau is that competition is good for both business and consumers.
The Commissioner is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act and three labelling statutes, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Precious Metals Marking Act and the Textile Labelling Act.
Under the Competition Act, the Commissioner can launch inquiries, challenge civil and merger matters before the Competition Tribunal, make recommendations on criminal matters to the Attorney General of Canada, and intervene as a competition advocate before federal and provincial bodies.
As head of the Canadian Competition Bureau, the Commissioner leads the Bureau's participation in international fora such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Competition Network
(ICN), to develop and promote coordinated competition laws and policies in an increasingly globalized marketplace.
, exclusive dealing
, tied-selling and price maintenance. Activities will also extend to certain types of anti-competitive agreements or arrangements of a non-criminal nature.
, agreements or arrangements among competitors and potential competitors to fix prices, allocate markets or restrict supply, and bid-rigging. For cartels other than bid-rigging entered into prior to March 12, 2010, an undue lessening of competition must be proven. The Branch also actively reaches out to stakeholders engaged in procurement to enable them to detect and deter bid-rigging and other cartel activities.
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Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
that ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace .
Headed by the Commissioner of Competition, the Bureau is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act
Competition Act
The Competition Act is a Canadian federal law governing most business conduct.The Act contains both criminal and civil provisions aimed at preventing anti-competitive practices in the marketplace....
, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.
The basic operating assumption of the Competition Bureau is that competition is good for both business and consumers.
The Commissioner of Competition
The current Commissioner of Competition is Melanie Aitken. She served as Interim Commissioner of Competition since December 2008 and was formally appointed to the position on August 5, 2009.The Commissioner is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act and three labelling statutes, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Precious Metals Marking Act and the Textile Labelling Act.
Under the Competition Act, the Commissioner can launch inquiries, challenge civil and merger matters before the Competition Tribunal, make recommendations on criminal matters to the Attorney General of Canada, and intervene as a competition advocate before federal and provincial bodies.
As head of the Canadian Competition Bureau, the Commissioner leads the Bureau's participation in international fora such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Competition Network
International Competition Network
The International Competition Network is an informal, virtual network that seeks to facilitate cooperation between competition law authorities globally...
(ICN), to develop and promote coordinated competition laws and policies in an increasingly globalized marketplace.
Organization
- Melanie L. Aitken — Commissioner of Competition
- Paul Collins — Senior Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Mergers
- John Pecman — Senior Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Criminal Matters and Acting Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Fair Business Practices
- Richard Taylor — Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Civil Matters
- Lise Davey — Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Compliance and Operations
- Ron Corvari — Chief Economist, Economic Policy and Enforcement
- Kim Peterson — Acting Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Public Affairs
- Mollie Johnson — Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Legislative and International Affairs
Civil Matters Branch
Responsible for detecting and deterring restrictive trade practices that have a negative impact on competition, such as abuse of dominance, refusal to dealRefusal to deal
Refusal to deal is one of several anti-competitive practices forbidden in countries which have restricted market economies. For example:-History:...
, exclusive dealing
Exclusive dealing
Exclusive dealing refers to when a retailer or wholesaler is ‘tied’ to purchase from a supplier on the understanding that no other distributor will be appointed or receive supplies in a given area...
, tied-selling and price maintenance. Activities will also extend to certain types of anti-competitive agreements or arrangements of a non-criminal nature.
Compliance and Operations Branch
Responsible for ensuring that Branches work within approved policies and procedures and have what they need to do their work (Capacity Building, Enforcement Services, Management Services).Criminal Matters Branch
Responsible for detecting and deterring hard core cartels including conspiraciesConspiracy (civil)
A civil conspiracy or collusion is an agreement between two or more parties to deprive a third party of legal rights or deceive a third party to obtain an illegal objective....
, agreements or arrangements among competitors and potential competitors to fix prices, allocate markets or restrict supply, and bid-rigging. For cartels other than bid-rigging entered into prior to March 12, 2010, an undue lessening of competition must be proven. The Branch also actively reaches out to stakeholders engaged in procurement to enable them to detect and deter bid-rigging and other cartel activities.
Economic Policy and Enforcement Branch
Responsible for providing expertise on leading economic theory, advice on enforcement matters and policy/advocacy activities of the Bureau, and for developing and disseminating economic knowledge to the Bureau.Fair Business Practices Branch
Responsible for promoting a competitive marketplace by discouraging deceptive business practices and by encouraging the provision of sufficient information to enable informed consumer choice. The Branch administers and enforces the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act, the Precious Metals Marking Act as well as the misleading representations and deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition ActCompetition Act
The Competition Act is a Canadian federal law governing most business conduct.The Act contains both criminal and civil provisions aimed at preventing anti-competitive practices in the marketplace....
.