Hello, Mr. Chair and committee members. We thank you for offering us the opportunity to present our comments today.
My name is Sara Eve Levac and I am a lawyer with Option consommateurs. I am joined by my colleague Carlos Castiblanco, who is an economist and analyst.
Option consommateurs was created in 1983 and is a not-for-profit association whose mission is to help consumers and defend their rights. Option consommateurs has been involved in issues relating to competition for decades. It often answers consumers' questions concerning deceptive marketing practices. It has initiated class actions alleging violations of the Competition Act. It also contributed to the recent consultation on the future of competition policy in Canada.
We are therefore in a good position to provide our comments on Bill C-56.
Option consommateurs supports Bill C-56 and urges that it be enacted. First, in this inflationary period, it proposes better oversight of market competition. We also welcome the repeal of the efficiencies defence in corporate merger cases. Second, it is part of a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach for stimulating the housing supply.
However, we propose that the measures put forward in the bill be strengthened. Our presentation will focus on two of these suggestions.
First, the amendments to the Competition Act should give the Competition Bureau the necessary leeway in carrying out market studies.
Second, there should be more focus on creating affordable housing. This would mean specifying the criteria for housing units that are eligible for the excise tax rebate, for one thing.
I would note that we have produced a written brief setting out our position on the bill in detail.
First, Bill C-56 gives the Competition Bureau a mandate to conduct inquiries into the state of competition in a market, at the request of the minister. We propose that the Competition Bureau have powers that enable it to obtain the necessary information directly in conducting such inquiries.
For example, the Competition Bureau recently did a market study on the retail grocery sector. In that study, it pointed out that the companies had not all cooperated to the same degree.
To ensure that the market studies provided for in Bill C-56 are effective, the Competition Bureau should have the power to compel a person to provide information to it.
At present, Bill C-56 provides that the Bureau must apply to a court for an order that a person provide information to the Bureau. This additional step cause additional delays in the conduct of inquiries.
We note that elsewhere in the world, including in the United States and the European Union, the institutions responsible for overseeing the state of competition do have that power.
As well, the power of the Competition Board to undertake a market study should be included in the act. Elsewhere in the world and in Canada, the power of other oversight institutions to undertake studies is expressly provided in the law.
I will give my colleague Mr. Castiblanco the floor to talk to you about our comments on the proposed amendments to the Excise Tax Act.