Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Status
Report stage (House), as of June 19, 2024 (This bill did not become law.)
Summary
This is from the published bill.
This enactment amends the Competition Act to increase penalties for certain anti-competitive acts. It also changes aspects of the review of mergers, including how gains in efficiency and market concentration are taken into account. In addition, it requires the Competition Tribunal to make an order dissolving a completed merger or prohibiting the merger from proceeding if the merger would result in excessive combined market share. The limitation period for the review of mergers is increased from one year to three years. Finally, it amends the Competition Tribunal Act to remove the Tribunal’s ability to award costs against the Crown.
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-352s:
C-352 (2017)
An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and to provide for the development of a national strategy (abandonment of vessels)
C-352 (2013)
National Office for Fire and Emergency Response Statistics Act
C-352 (2011)
National Office for Fire and Emergency Response Statistics Act
C-352 (2010)
National Security Committee of Parliamentarians Act
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
The bill seeks to amend the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act, aiming to increase competition and lower prices for Canadians by addressing anti-competitive behavior. It proposes measures such as increasing penalties for price fixing, protecting smaller businesses from anti-competitive practices of larger corporations, empowering the Competition Bureau to crack down on abuses like price gouging, and preventing mergers that reduce competition. It also seeks to consider the impact on consumers when reviewing potential mergers and acquisitions.
NDP
Addressing corporate greed: The NDP believes corporate greed is driving up the cost of food and criticizes both Liberals and Conservatives for not addressing it. The bill aims to empower consumers and reduce the power of CEOs.
Empowering the Competition Bureau: The bill seeks to increase penalties for corporate grocery stores that engage in price fixing or gouging. It aims to support smaller independent grocery stores by stopping anti-competitive behavior and give the Competition Bureau more power to crack down on abuses.
Stopping harmful mergers: The bill would stop mergers, which end up hurting Canadians, like the merger of Rogers-Shaw, which reduces competition, increases prices and means a loss of jobs. The bill would also increase penalties for consumer scams, help small grocery stores, and give the Competition Bureau more power to crack down on abuses such as price gouging.
Focus on affordability: The NDP bill addresses the increasing cost of living and aims to make it easier for Canadians to afford food. The NDP argues they are fighting for Canadians who are suffering due to corporate greed and the Liberal government's policies.
Conservative
Competition Act is outdated: The Competition Act is outdated and protects large companies, leading to Canadians paying the highest fees. It was designed for a 1960s industrial policy, aiming to make Canadian companies large enough to compete internationally, but it has not adapted to free trade and globalization.
Monopolies stifle competition: Large monopolies should not be allowed to merge or acquire smaller competitors, as this reduces competition and hurts consumers. Breaking up these monopolies requires courage to change the Competition Act.
Grocery sector problems: The carbon tax increases grocery prices, and there are restrictive real estate covenants that prevent small and medium-sized businesses from competing with larger grocery chains. The restrictive covenants, such as those that prevent small butcher shops or bakeries from opening near large grocery stores, stifle competition and hurt small businesses.
Mergers reduce competition: Several mergers approved by the Liberal government have reduced competition, such as in the cellphone, banking, and airline sectors. For example, the Rogers-Shaw merger eliminated a new entrant into the wireless market, and further consolidation has occurred in the banking sector.
Bloc
Supports competition bill: The Bloc supports the bill because it increases penalties for anti-competitive behavior, changes the competition regime for mergers and acquisitions, and extends the limitation period for reviewing mergers and acquisitions.
Consumers being cheated: Canada's competition regime needs to be changed because consumers have been getting cheated for decades. The current system favors business and capital, not consumers, which is especially problematic given the current cost of living.
Supply chain vulnerabilities: The bill addresses supply chains, which is important given the vulnerabilities exposed during the pandemic. Mergers and acquisitions can lead to foreign suppliers replacing local suppliers, weakening consumers’ buying power in Quebec and Canada.
Cancel mergers and acquisitions: The bill will empower the Competition Tribunal to cancel mergers and acquisitions, addressing the fact that the Competition Bureau’s advisory opinions are not always perfect and consumers often end up paying the price.
Liberal
Comprehensive competition law reform: The Liberal party agrees with the need for a stronger competition enforcement regime, but feels that the NDP's Bill C-352 is largely addressed by Bills C-56 and C-59, which represent a comprehensive overhaul of the Competition Act following extensive consultations.
Focus on consumer protection: The party emphasizes that Bill C-56 prioritizes the interests of Canadian consumers by eliminating the 'efficiency argument' that previously justified mergers that reduced competition. They note that the Competition Bureau will be empowered with additional resources to conduct investigations.
C-59 addresses remaining issues: Bill C-59 includes elements missing from Bill C-352, such as facilitating private actions against anti-competitive practices, anti-reprisal provisions, and strengthening the law against greenwashing. The Liberals believe their bills comprehensively address the needs expressed by Canadians.
