It’s a good day to examine the Competition Bureau – what it does, and why companies entering the Canadian market should know about it.
The Competition Bureau Canada is “an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses.” The Bureau enforces Canada’s Competition Act – a federal law that applies to all businesses regardless of size, products offered, industry, business model, or operational location.
The Bureau does not protect individual competitors, regulate prices, offer legal advice, or intervene directly in commercial disputes. Rather, its mandate is to:
- Protect and promote competition,
- Investigate anti-competitive behaviour (including deceptive marketing practices, cartels, monopolies, and mergers that might lessen or prevent competition),
- Take court action against businesses and individuals that break the law,
- Publish educational materials to help businesses reduce their risk, and
- Build awareness of the law.
The Bureau’s website has a lot of information about product labelling, frauds and scams, made in Canada claims, and much, much more. Businesses looking to enter the Canadian market should visit the Bureau’s Compliance Hub to understand Canadian laws and avoid issues that may affect their success in this market (and click here for the Bureau’s contact details).
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