Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to address my questions to Mrs. Mollie Johnson and Richard Bilodeau from the Competition Bureau.
I understand that the Competition Act and Canada's competition regime changed significantly as a result of the amendments passed by Parliament in March 2009. These amendments, which represent the most significant changes to the act in over 20 years, were aimed at modernizing the legislation and bringing it more closely in line with the competition laws of Canada's major trading partners. This means that you have the latest tool to protect customers.
In view of my background in engineering, and as a regulator of the largest professional engineering association--the professional engineers in Ontario--I have quite a familiarity with the complaints process, so I have to address four questions to you.
Number one, in your opening remarks you indicated that you receive an influx of complaints at the bureau when there is a spike in gas prices. Typically, what is the nature of these complaints? Could you please explain to committee members what steps the bureau takes when it receives complaints?
That is my first question. Would you like to have all three, Mr. Chair? May I?