Competition Bureau Issues Draft Competitor Collaboration Guidelines for Comment

OTTAWA, May 8, 2009 — The Competition Bureau is seeking public comments on its draft Competitor Collaboration Guidelines.

Recent amendments to the conspiracy provision of the Competition Act, which will come into force in March 2010, create a more effective criminal enforcement regime for the most egregious forms of cartel agreements. They also remove the threat of criminal sanctions for legitimate collaborations to avoid discouraging firms from engaging in potentially beneficial alliances.

The Bureau recognizes the need for transparency and predictability regarding its assessment of competitor collaborations. Accordingly, these draft guidelines are intended to assist firms in assessing the likelihood that a collaboration between or among competitors will raise concerns under the criminal or civil provisions of the Competition Act and, if so, whether the Commissioner would commence an inquiry in respect of the collaboration.

Interested parties are asked to mail, fax or e-mail their comments no later than Friday, August 14, 2009, to:

David Faye, Competition Law Officer
Competition Bureau
50 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0C9
Fax: 819-994-0998
E-mail: david.faye@cb-bc.gc.ca

Submissions will be posted on the Bureau Web site unless it is specifically requested that they be kept confidential. In addition, the Bureau plans to hold a series of public consultations with interested parties. Details on these meetings will follow at a later date.

The Competition Bureau is an independent agency that contributes to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Phil Norris
Communications Officer
Public Affairs Branch
819-953-8230

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
Toll free: 1-800-348-5358
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-642-3844