Consultations on Proposed Changes to the Competition Act

OTTAWA, June 23, 2003 — The Government of Canada announced today that it will launch a consultation process with Canadians on proposed changes to the Competition Act, including the addition of restitution as a key remedy to deal with consumer loss in cases of false or misleading representations. Detailed legislative proposals are outlined in a new Government discussion paper entitled Options for Amending the Competition Act: Fostering a Competitive Marketplace.

"Restitution would strengthen the remedies available in civil cases and discourage false claims in the marketplace," said Allan Rock, Minister of Industry. "It would enable victims of bogus and misleading claims to get their money back under the Competition Act."

The Government indicated in its response to the April 2002 Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, A Plan to Modernize Canada's Competition Regime, that it would consult on specific legislative proposals.

"Anticompetitive conduct has serious consequences for Canadian businesses and consumers," said Minister Rock. "The Government is committed to modernizing the Competition Act in the face of a rapidly changing global economy and public consultations play a vital role in this process."

The Government discussion paper includes the following proposals:

• strengthening the civil provisions of the Act with administrative monetary penalties, restitution, and civil cause of action;
• reforming the conspiracy provisions;
• reforming the pricing provisions; and
• allowing for inquiries into the functioning of markets in Canada.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.

For media enquiries, please contact :
Tim Weil
Senior Communications Advisor
Competition Bureau
819-953-9271 or 613-296-2189 (cell.)

For general enquiries, please contact :
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
1-800-348-5358