Competition Bureau

Génius Conseil Inc. to pay $300,000 in fifth Québec bid-rigging settlement

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 19, 2020
Bid rigging, Conflict of interest, Competition Bureau, Government

Gnius collaborated with the Competition Bureau and the PPSC early in the bid-rigging investigation through the Leniency Program .

Key Points: 
  • Gnius collaborated with the Competition Bureau and the PPSC early in the bid-rigging investigation through the Leniency Program .
  • In addition to this collaboration, the settlement takes into account that Gnius previously reimbursed overpayments related to the bid-rigging through the Government of Qubec's Voluntary Reimbursement Program .
  • This is the fifth settlement with an engineering firm resulting from the Bureau's ongoing investigation into the rigging of bids for municipal infrastructure contracts in Qubec.
  • Five engineering firms have been ordered to pay a total of $8,850,000 for their respective roles in the bid-rigging scheme:

Competition Bureau cracking down on deceptive marketing claims about COVID-19 prevention or treatment

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Fraud, Deception, False advertising, Competition Bureau, Government, Human behavior, Crimes, Misleading or deceptive conduct

Most of the businesses have taken corrective action, pulling products that raised concerns from their shelves or stopping the claims.

Key Points: 
  • Most of the businesses have taken corrective action, pulling products that raised concerns from their shelves or stopping the claims.
  • Know the law: The Competition Act prohibits false or misleading claims about any product, service, or business interest.
  • 2. Review your marketing practices: Conduct a comprehensive review of your marketing practices to identify any claims that could reasonably be associated with COVID-19.
  • The Competition Bureau is taking action to protect consumers and businesses from deceptive marketing and other anticompetitive activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jetlines loses SmartLynx and InHarv investments, postpones launch and reduces its activity until the Competition Bureau finalizes its WestJet investigation

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 28, 2019
Canada Jetlines, SmartLynx Airlines, Companies, OTC Markets Group, Competition Bureau, TSX Venture Exchange, Abuse, Government, Organizations

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Jetlines Ltd. (JET: TSX-V; JETMF: OTCQB) (the Company or Jetlines) postpones launch date until Competition Bureau defines its position.

Key Points: 
  • VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Jetlines Ltd. (JET: TSX-V; JETMF: OTCQB) (the Company or Jetlines) postpones launch date until Competition Bureau defines its position.
  • As a result, SmartLynx and InHarv ULCC Growth Fund have exercised their rights to terminate their investment commitments.
  • In the opinion of Jetlines management and its retained experts, the above factors all amount to an abuse of dominance.
  • Senior representatives from the Companys management team made multiple appearances before the Competition Bureau between January and July 2019.

Competition Bureau takes action on false or misleading marketing practices in online flight sales

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 28, 2019
Deception, Fraud, False advertising, Marketplace, Human behavior, Television series, Crimes, Competition Bureau

The Bureau entered into a temporary consent agreement with FlightHub that prohibits it from using false or misleading marketing practices on flighthub.com and justfly.com.

Key Points: 
  • The Bureau entered into a temporary consent agreement with FlightHub that prohibits it from using false or misleading marketing practices on flighthub.com and justfly.com.
  • The Bureau is investigating FlightHub's representations for flight-related services, such as seat selection and flight cancellation, which result in hidden fees.
  • The Bureau will continue to seek out, investigate and halt deceptive marketing and anti-competitive practices in the online marketplace.
  • "Early in my term as Commissioner of Competition, I made a commitment that the Bureau would use all the tools at its disposal to address deceptive marketing practices in the online marketplace.

Government of Canada appoints Matthew Boswell Commissioner of Competition

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Government of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Government, Competition Bureau, Navdeep Bains, The Honourable

OTTAWA, March 5, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced that Matthew Boswell has been appointed Commissioner of Competition for a five-year term.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, March 5, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced that Matthew Boswell has been appointed Commissioner of Competition for a five-year term.
  • Mr. Boswell has been serving as interim Commissioner of Competition since May 30, 2018.
  • He joined the Competition Bureau in 2011 and became Senior Deputy Commissioner the following year.
  • Mr. Boswell will carry on this strong work as the Bureau continues to protect and promote competition and innovation across Canada.

Competition Bureau completes investigation into alleged abuse of dominance by Janssen Inc.

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Life sciences, Drugs, Articles, Monoclonal antibodies, Immunosuppressants, TNF inhibitors, Biosimilar, Biotechnology, Infliximab, Johnson & Johnson, Pharmaceutical industry, Competition Bureau

OTTAWA, Feb. 20, 2019 /CNW/ -The Competition Bureau announced today that it is closing an investigation into allegations of abuse of dominance by Janssen Inc., a Canadian pharmaceutical company owned by Johnson & Johnson.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Feb. 20, 2019 /CNW/ -The Competition Bureau announced today that it is closing an investigation into allegations of abuse of dominance by Janssen Inc., a Canadian pharmaceutical company owned by Johnson & Johnson.
  • The Bureau's investigation considered whether Janssen was engaging in conduct that shielded its biologic drug, Remicade, from competition from biosimilar drugs, like Inflectra and Renflexis.
  • Therefore, at this time, the Bureau is unable to conclude that the Competition Act has been contravened.
  • The Bureau will not hesitate to take appropriate action to maintain and promote competition in the pharmaceutical industry.

Taxi and ride-sharing regulations in B.C. would be better with stronger competition

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 4, 2019
Competition Bureau, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Government, Competition

4, 2019 /CNW/ -The Competition Bureau is urging policy makers in British Columbia to re-think provincial taxi regulations and make them better for consumers and businesses alike by applying the principles of competition.

Key Points: 
  • 4, 2019 /CNW/ -The Competition Bureau is urging policy makers in British Columbia to re-think provincial taxi regulations and make them better for consumers and businesses alike by applying the principles of competition.
  • The Bureau believes that applying these recommendations will increase competition in the B.C.
  • Increased competition generally leads to more innovative products, lower prices, and higher quality services.
  • 's Select Standing Committee that will help regulators and policymakers create a pro-competitive environment for the benefit of B.C.

Competition Bureau concludes investigation into ticket scalper bots

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Black markets, Tickets, Retailing, Ticket resale, Fraud, Human behavior, Internet bot, False advertising, Competition Bureau, Scalper, Bots, Government

However, the Competition Bureau has examined the matter and has concluded that this conduct has not contravened the Competition Act.

Key Points: 
  • However, the Competition Bureau has examined the matter and has concluded that this conduct has not contravened the Competition Act.
  • The scalper bot allegations were reviewed under the deceptive marketing practices, restrictive trade practices, and conspiracy provisions of the Competition Act.
  • Scalper bots or ticket bots are software designed to purchase a large amount of tickets for sporting or entertainment events when they first become available.
  • "The Competition Act is the best tool to crack down on false or misleading representations, including misleading ticket price advertising.

More choice at lower prices: Interim Commissioner of Competition calls for more competition in British Columbia liquor industry

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Government of Canada, Marketing, Merchandising, Retail, Competition Bureau, Market economics), Government

Under British Columbia's current liquor policy, private liquor distributors cannot sell their products to hospitality retailers.

Key Points: 
  • Under British Columbia's current liquor policy, private liquor distributors cannot sell their products to hospitality retailers.
  • This policy restricts competition, raises prices for consumers, and limits access to a wider variety of specialty products.
  • The Competition Bureau believes these recommendations will encourage greater innovation and competition in British Columbia's alcohol industry, leading to more choice and better prices for businesses and consumers in the province.
  • The Competition Bureau actively promotes competition by intervening before federal and provincial boards, commissions and tribunals, and encouraging and facilitating compliance with the Competition Act.

Thirteenth guilty plea concludes auto parts bid-rigging investigations with fines totalling over $86 million

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 19, 2018
Anti-competitive behaviour, Bid rigging, Conflict of interest, Yazaki, Competition Bureau, Showa Corporation, Government, Economy of Japan, Economy, Toyota

In the news release, Thirteenth guilty plea concludes auto parts bid-rigging investigations with fines totalling over $86 million, issued 19-Oct-2018 by Competition Bureau over CNW, we are advised that changes were made in the first paragraph and that an item was added in the Quick Facts section.

Key Points: 
  • In the news release, Thirteenth guilty plea concludes auto parts bid-rigging investigations with fines totalling over $86 million, issued 19-Oct-2018 by Competition Bureau over CNW, we are advised that changes were made in the first paragraph and that an item was added in the Quick Facts section.
  • Today's guilty plea concludes the Bureau's investigation of a series of international bid-rigging conspiracies among car parts suppliers.
  • The investigations led to 13 guilty pleas and fines totalling more than $86 million, including three of the largest bid-rigging fines ever imposed by the courts in Canada: $30 million ( Yazaki Corporation ), $13.4 million ( Mitsubishi Electric ) and $13 million ( Showa Corporation ).
  • The auto parts investigations benefitted from the cooperation of numerous companies under the Bureau's Leniency Program, in which INOAC participated.