Competition Bureau Issues Final Competitor
Collaboration Guidelines

OTTAWA, December 23, 2009 — The Competition Bureau today published its Competitor Collaboration Guidelines.

Amendments to the provisions 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, such as price-fixing. At the same time, they remove the threat of criminal sanctions for legitimate collaborations to avoid discouraging firms from engaging in potentially beneficial joint activities or alliances.

The Bureau is committed to advancing transparency and predictability regarding its assessment of competitor collaborations. To that end, these guidelines will assist firms in assessing the likelihood that a collaboration between or among competitors would 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.

The Bureau held public consultations on draft Guidelines through the summer and fall, and has taken into account comments received in preparing the final Guidelines.

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

For media enquiries, please contact:
Alexa Keating
Communications Advisor
Public Affairs Branch
819-953-9760

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
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