Bill C-681 (Historical)

Competition Prosecution Service Act

An Act to amend the Competition Act (Competition Prosecution Service)

This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2015.

Sponsor

Annick Papillon  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of May 26, 2015
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Competition Act to add a new part that provides for the appointment of the Director of the Competition Prosecution Service and one or more Deputy Directors. That Part gives the Director the authority to initiate and conduct, on behalf of the Attorney General of Canda, prosecutions under any Act for the enforcement of which the Commissioner of Competition is responsible. That Part also provides that the Director has the power to make binding and final decisions as to whether to prosecute, unless the Attorney General of Canada directs otherwise, and that any such directive must be in writing and published in the Canada Gazette. The Director holds office for a non-renewable term of seven years during good behaviour and is the Deputy Attorney General of Canada for the purposes of carrying out the work of the office.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Competition Prosecution Service ActRoutine Proceedings

May 26th, 2015 / 10 a.m.


See context

NDP

Annick Papillon NDP Québec, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-681, An Act to amend the Competition Act (Competition Prosecution Service).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my new bill on creating a competition prosecution service, which will allow the Competition Bureau to act more quickly when an offence requires criminal prosecution.

The bill gives the new director the authority to initiate and conduct, on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada, prosecutions under any act for the enforcement of which the Commissioner of Competition is responsible. Former competition commissioner Melanie Aitken recommended implementing such a measure in order to expedite legal action against offenders.

Unfortunately, bid rigging and price fixing remain common crimes in Canada, and Canadians expect the offenders to be punished quickly. My bill will help accelerate the legal process, thereby increasing protection for consumers. I certainly hope to have the government's support on this matter.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)