Competition Act Amendments Introduced

OTTAWA, November 7, 1996 — Amendments to the Competition Act were introduced today in the House of Commons by Industry Minister John Manley. This initiative will help to promote a healthier marketplace, one of the key features of the government's jobs and growth agenda, by providing more effective tools for competition law enforcement.

"The amendments provide improved enforcement tools that are tailored to the reality of today's marketplace," said Mr. Manley. "Consumers will benefit from proposed changes relating to telemarketing fraud and misleading advertising. Mr. Martin Cauchon, Secretary of State (Federal Office of Regional Development - Quebec), has been given delegated authority to carry the bill through the House."

These amendments are intended to provide significant benefits to consumers and businesses. The changes will:

• provide quicker and more effective resolution of misleading advertising and deceptive marketing practices;
  
  
• address the recent proliferation of deceptive telemarketing practices that prey upon consumers and erode the value of telemarketing as a legitimate marketing tool;
  
  
• improve the administration of the merger prenotification process, while reducing the regulatory burden on business;
  
  
• revise and clarify the law regarding comparative price advertising by retailers; and
  
  
• expand the tools available to the courts to address criminal conduct through consent resolutions and directive orders following conviction.

The proposed amendments have been developed in close consultation with a broad cross-section of marketplace stakeholders, including businesses, associations, consumers, and members of the legal, law enforcement and academic communities. Their views were sought through the circulation of a discussion paper and the creation of a consultative panel.

For more information, please contact:

Philippe Angers
Office of the Secretary of State
Federal Office of Regional Development - Quebec
613-995-7691

Harry Chandler
Competition Bureau
Industry Canada
819-997-7669