I think Bill C-56 is sending a very clear signal that we take competition seriously in this country. It's going to be a game-changer in the relations between the Competition Bureau and the market players, because today—imagine—you have the Competition Bureau, which, if it wants to understand the dynamic of a market, has to rely on the goodwill of the participants in order to understand. I would say that probably you have some that are very forthcoming, but we've seen, for example, when we did the last analysis on the grocery sector, that some others were much less willing to share.
In terms of the market dynamic, it's going to change the balance of power, if you see what I mean. Market participants will now know and say, “Hey, if I'm not willing, they can subpoena and get the information.” Therefore, I think we're strengthening the Competition Bureau and the enforcement tools.
The NDP was also with us with respect to penalties, making sure the efficiencies defence is gone or will be gone, and making sure that we look at vertical agreements. Those are all signals that, if you're sitting there as a market participant who engages in anti-competitive behaviour, you would look at that and say, “Okay, now the tide is changing.”
We're going to be in a world where competition is going to be a cornerstone of the Canadian economy. We're a mature economy. We should be able to allow pro-competitive mergers to go forward, but certainly not those that harm consumers, as we have seen.
Ultimately, we need less consolidation and more competition in this country. This is really sending a very clear signal to industry that we're going to get serious about competition.