Publications and guidelines

We produce a variety of publications for consumers, businesses, and the general public.

Publications and guidelines
Title Topic Type Status Date
Guide to the December 2023 amendments to the Competition Act Amendments to the Competition Act Guide   December 18, 2023 Competition Act; Competition Bureau; market studies; anti-competitive mergers; business collaborations; abuse of dominance; business collaborations; anti-competitive; Guide to the December 2023 amendments to the Competition Act; Guide; December 2023; competitive economy; An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act
What we heard at Canada’s Competition Summit 2023 General Report   December 7, 2023 economic growth; prosperity; Canada’s Competition Summit 2023: Exploring policy approaches to unlock competition; Honourable François-Philippe Champagne; 2023 Summit; productivity; lack of competition; businesses; public policies; regulations; lower prices; higher product quality; efficiency; greater resilience; Political support; regulatory frameworks; financial services; finance; foreign ownership restrictions; supply management regimes; interprovincial trade barriers; barriers to entry; affordability challenges; international developments
Merger Intelligence and Notification Unit – Update on Key Statistics 2022-23 Mergers Report   November 15, 2023 Report, Competition Bureau's Mergers Directorate, Mergers Directorate, Mergers, Merger Intelligence and Notification Unit, Unilateral Conduct Roundtable, Canadian Bar Association's Mergers, Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Branch, Canada Transportation Act
A new era for competition: Driving affordability and economic growth General Annual Report   November 8, 2023 Annual Report, Report, Canadian economy, enforcement, digital economy
Competition in Canada from 2000 to 2020: An Economy at a Crossroads General Report   October 19, 2023 Competition; Canadian consumers and businesses; study; Canadian economy; research
Report to the Minister of Finance Regarding the Proposed Acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada by Royal Bank of Canada General Letter   September 1, 2023 Minister of Finance; HSBC Canada; RBC; financial services; Proposed Transaction; merger; Merger Enforcement Guidelines; bank; banks; Toronto-Dominion Bank; Bank of Montreal; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Canadian economy; Bank Act; deposit rates; loan product interest rates; Domestic banks; Foreign bank subsidiaries; Foreign bank branches; Credit unions; non-bank financial intermediaries; NBFIs; COVID-19 pandemic; domestic systemically important banks; global systemically-important banks; small and medium-sized deposit-taking institutions; Personal Financial Services; Business Financial Services; Capital Markets Services; Credit Card Services; ScotiaBank, TD, CIBC, and BMO; acquisitions advice; underwriting; sales; trading; credit card issuance to businesses
Canada Needs More Grocery Competition: Competition Bureau Retail Grocery Market Study Report Market study Report   June 27, 2023 grocery industry, Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, consumers, businesses, federal, provincial, and territorial governments, small and medium-sized businesses, Competition Act, Price fixing and bid rigging, Deceptive marketing, Mergers, Abuse of Dominance, Walmart, Costco, grocery store proximity, supermarkets, loyalty programs, online shopping, online, pharmaceutical, beauty products, Cost, price, profit, profit margin, Amazon, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, ALDI, property controls, unit pricing, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, regulated
Enforcement Guidelines on wage-fixing and no poaching agreements General Guidelines   May 30, 2023 Competition Act, Competitor Collaboration Guidelines, Director of Public Prosecutions, no-poaching agreements, labour-related restraints, training costs
Planting the seeds for competition: Competition Bureau submission to Health Canada and the Expert Panel to support the Cannabis Act legislative review General Report   May 26, 2023 Health Canada, Cannabis Act, consumers, businesses, regulator, policymakers, Mental Health, Addictions, THC, licensing requirements, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Request for Information: Royal Bank of Canada / HSBC Bank Canada Mergers Bulletin   May 1, 2023 merger, banking, financial services, Residential Mortgages, Personal Transaction Accounts, Savings, Personal Long-Term Investment Services, Private Investment Counselling Services, Lending
Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 6) Advertising/marketing Bulletin   April 17, 2023 online, marketing, disclosure, deception
2023-2024 Annual Plan: Competition, recovery and growth Bureau performance Corporate   April 17, 2023 annual plan, economic recovery, competition, consumers, businesses, anti-competitive and deceptive marketing activity
Letter to the Minister of Transport: Assessment of the adequacy of proposed undertakings as required by subsection 53.2(6) of the Canada Transportation Act regarding the proposed acquisition of Sunwing by WestJet General Letter   March 2, 2023 Sunwing Vacations, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet Airlines, Merger, travel, airline, behavioural measures
What we heard from the Competition and Green Growth Summit 2022 General Report   January 10, 2023 Competition Bureau, report, markets, monopolization analysis, greener economy, sustainability
Empowering health care providers in the digital era — Digital Health Care Market Study — Part 3 Market study Report   November 24, 2022 Competition Bureau, report, public health system, market study, digital health care services
Report to the Minister of Transport and the Parties to the Transaction Pursuant to Subsection 53.2(2) of the Canada Transportation Act General Report   October 25, 2022 Report, acquisition, competition, transaction
Information Bulletin on Transparency General Bulletin   October 25, 2022 Report, Transparency, investigations, enforcement
Building a More Competitive Canada General Annual Report Archived October 12, 2022 Annual Report, Report, Canadian economy, enforcement, digital economy
Improving Health Care Through Pro-competitive Procurement Policy — Digital Health Care Market Study — Part 2 Market study Report   October 5, 2022 health data, Market Study, digital health care services, health care services
Letter to the Office of Red Tape Reduction and Small Business General Letter   July 27, 2022 Red Tape Reduction, Small Business, Maud Murray, pro-competitive policies
Guide to the 2022 amendments to the Competition Act Amendments to the Competition Act Guide   June 24, 2022 amendments to the Competition Act, amendments, Competition Act
Unlocking the power of health data — Digital Health Care Market Study — Part One Market study Report   June 23, 2022 health data, Market Study, digital health care services, health care services
2022-2023 Annual Plan: Competition, recovery and growth Bureau performance Corporate Archived April 4, 2022 annual plan, economic recovery, competition, consumers, businesses, anti-competitive and deceptive marketing activity
Championing competition in uncertain times General Annual Report Archived December 7, 2021 Annual Report, Report, Canadian economy, enforcement, digital economy
Our Year in Action: Safeguarding Competition in a Digital World General Annual Report Archived November 6, 2020 Annual Report, Report, Canadian economy, enforcement, advocacy
Competition Bureau Performance Measurement & Statistics Report 2022-2023 General Report   January 6, 2023 Report, Canadian economy, enforcement, advocacy
Competition Bureau Performance Measurement & Statistics Report 2021-2022 General Report Archived September 30, 2021 Report, Canadian economy, enforcement, advocacy
CRTC/Competition Bureau Interface General Letter   December 17, 2001 CRTC, telecommunications, broadcasting industries, Industry stakeholders, broadcasting firms, Telecommunications Act, telecommunications mergers
The Competition Bureau's Logic Model General Bulletin   March 26, 2019 logic model, organizational roadmap, Bureau activities, corresponding outputs, immediate impacts, innovative marketplace
Letter from the Commissioner to the Canadian Bar Association regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic General Letter   March 18, 2020 Canadian Bar Association, COVID-19 pandemic, Competition Law Section
Letter to the Manitoba Securities Commission - Consultation on the Real Estate Services Act and Real Estate Services Regulation in Manitoba General Letter   August 08, 2021 Manitoba Securities Commission, Real Estate Services Act, Real Estate Services Regulation in Manitoba
Assessment of the Adequacy of Proposed Undertakings Pursuant to Subsection 53.2(6) of the Canada Transportation Act – Proposed acquisition by Air Canada of Transat A.T. Inc. General Letter   December 9, 2020 Assessment, Canada Transportation Act, Air Canada, Transat
Compete to Win: Final Report June 2008 General Report Archived June 26, 2008 Competition Policy Review Panel, competition, Air Transport, Uranium Mining, Telecommunications, Broadcasting, Financial Services
2021-2022 Annual Plan: Supporting economic recovery through competition Bureau performance Corporate Archived April 1, 2021 economic recovery, competition, consumers, businesses, anti-competitive and deceptive marketing activity
2020-2021 Annual Plan: Protecting competition in uncertain times Bureau performance Corporate Archived July 6, 2020 economic recovery, competition, consumers, businesses, anti-competitive and deceptive marketing activity
Digital Health Services Survey: What We Heard from Canadians Market study Report   February 24, 2021 Digital Health Services Survey, digital health services, market study, Canada's health care sector, promote competition, Pro-competitive policies
Digital Health Care Consultation: What We Heard from Industry Stakeholders Market study Report   February 24, 2021 Digital Health Care Consultation, digital health services, market study, Canada's health care sector, promote competition, Pro-competitive policies
Competitive bidding processes in the public sector: Procuring good value for taxpayer money Bid-rigging Competition Advocate   February 5, 2021 cartels, competition, bid-rigging
Strengthening Canada's economy through pro-competitive policies: A step-by-step guide to competition assessment Competition assessment Guidelines   August 20, 2020 Competition assessment, Canadian economy, competitive marketplace, competitiveness, businesses
Report to the Minister of Transport and the Parties to the Transaction Pursuant to Subsection 53.2(2) of the Canada Transportation Act: Proposed Acquisition by Air Canada of Transat A.T. Inc. Mergers Report   March 27, 2020 Canada Transportation Act, CTA, Air Canada, Transat A.T. Inc., Minister of Transport, Proposed Acquisition, Acquisition
Highlights from the Competition Bureau's Data Forum: Discussing competition policy in the digital era Policy Report   August 30, 2019 Data Forum, competition policy, digital era, forum, borderless digital economy
Guide to the Labelling of Stuffed or Filled Textile Articles Labelling Guidelines   June 28, 2019 Labelling of Stuffed or Filled Textile Articles, Textile Labelling Act, Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations
Abuse of Dominance Enforcement Guidelines Abuse of dominance Guidelines   March 7, 2019 dominance, competition, market
Report to the Minister of Transport and the Parties to the Transaction Pursuant to Subsection 53.2(2) of the Canada Transportation Act: Proposed Merger of Bradley Air Services Limited, d.b.a. First Air, and Canadian North Inc. Mergers Report   February 25, 2019 Bradley Air Services Limited, d.b.a., First Air, Canadian North Inc., Canada Transportation Act, Minister of Transport,
Advertising Restrictions Advertising/marketing Report   October 4, 2016 Advertising, Restrictions, marketplace effects,
Canada's progress in FinTech: Regulatory highlights following the Competition Bureau's Market Study Market study Report   September 26, 2018 Market Study, FinTech, financial services sector
Misleading Representations and Deceptive Marketing Practices: Choice of Criminal or Civil Track under the Competition Act Advertising/marketing Bulletin   October 25, 2022 deception, conviction, adjudication
Telemarketing: Section 52.1 of the Competition Act Advertising/marketing Guidelines   October 16, 2009 telemarketing, deception, enforcement
Promotional Contests: Section 74.06 of the Competition Act Advertising/marketing Guidelines   October 16, 2009 promotions, contests, enforcement
Price Maintenance (Section 76 of the Competition Act) Advertising/marketing Guidelines   September 15, 2014 resale, MSRP, MAP
Merger Review Performance Report Mergers Report   April 12, 2012 Merger, Mergers, Performance, Report
Merger Review Performance Report Mergers Report Archived May 31, 2010 Merger, Mergers, Performance, Report
Multi-Level Marketing Plans and Schemes of Pyramid Selling Advertising/marketing Guidelines   April 29, 2009 pyramid, multi-level, marketing
Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers Advertising/marketing Guidelines   December 02, 2021 advertiser, environment, deceptive
Deceptive Notices of Winning a Prize Advertising/marketing Guidelines   October 16, 2009 deceptive, prize, winning
Consumer Rebate Promotions Advertising/marketing Guidelines   September 21, 2009 rebate, promotions, disclosure, deceptive
Ordinary Price Claims: Subsections 74.01(2) and 74.01(3) of the Competition Act Advertising/marketing Guidelines   October 16, 2009 price, bargain, sale
Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 1) Advertising/marketing Bulletin   June 10, 2015 online, marketing, disclosure, deception
Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 2) Advertising/marketing Bulletin   March 7, 2016 advertising, performance, consent, compliance
Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 3) Advertising/marketing Bulletin   May 2, 2017 digital, OECD, telecommunication
Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 4) Advertising/marketing Bulletin   June 5, 2018 influencer, Made in Canada, savings
Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 5) Advertising/marketing Bulletin   March 4, 2020 influencer, Made in Canada, savings
Competitor Collaboration Guidelines Anti-competitive collaboration Guidelines   May 6, 2021 collaboration, merger, competitor
Competitor Collaboration Guidelines Anti-competitive collaboration Guidelines Archived December 23, 2009 collaboration, merger, competitor
Deter bid-rigging by using a Certificate of Independent Bid Determination Bid-rigging Form/Template   January 18, 2018 tender, bids, quotations
Production of Electronically Stored Information Bureau inquiries and information gathering Bulletin   April 28, 2015 ESI, electronically, email, archive
Communication During Inquiries Bureau inquiries and information gathering Bulletin Archived June 26, 2014 communication, third party, inquiry
Requests for information from private parties in proceedings under section 36 of the Competition Act Bureau inquiries and information gathering Bulletin   June 11, 2018 disclosure, information, confidentiality
Review of s. 11 of the Competition Act Bureau inquiries and information gathering Report   August 12, 2008 competion, merger, inquiry
Information Bulletin on Private Access to the Competition Tribunal Competition Tribunal Bulletin   May 4, 2005 private access, tribunal, litigation
Competition Bureau Fee and Service Standards Handbook for Written Opinions Fees/service standards Bulletin   August 31, 2017 written opinion, fees, standards
Competition Bureau Fees and Service Standards Handbook for Mergers and MergerRelated Matters Fees/service standards Bulletin   May 1, 2018 fees, merger, standards
Competition Bureau Fee and Service Standards Handbook for Written Opinions Fees/service standards Bulletin Archived August 31, 2017 fees, merger, standards
Competition Bureau Fees and Service Standards Policy for Mergers and Merger-Related Matters Fees/service standards Bulletin   May 1, 2018 fees, merger, standards
Little Black Book of Scams (Second Edition) Fraud Brochure   February 5, 2018 scam, identity, internet
Little Black Book of Scams Fraud Brochure   February 15, 2017 scam, identity, internet
Competition and Compliance Framework General Bulletin   November 10, 2015 shared, compliance, outreach, enforcement
Immunity and Leniency Programs under the Competition Act Immunity/Leniency programs Bulletin   March 15, 2019 immunity, leniency, cooperation
Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines Intellectual property Guidelines   March 13, 2019 intellectual, property, competition, law, ip
Guide to the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations Labelling Guidelines   February 11, 2003 textile, labelling, advertising
Quality Assurance Guide—Application: Average system of net quantity determination Labelling Bulletin   October 15, 1999 quality, assurance, testing, control
Labelling of Fabric Sold at Retail Labelling Guidelines   May 1, 1996 labelling, fabric, retail
Federal Labelling Requirements for Upholstered Furniture Labelling Guidelines   November 1, 1996 labelling, upholstered, furniture
Guide to the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations Labelling Guidelines   October 1, 1999 consumer, packaging, regulations, labelling
Guide to the Labelling of Down and Feathers Labelling Guidelines   March 1, 2000 down, feathers, labelling
Guide for the Labelling and Advertising of Pet Foods Labelling Guidelines   September 21, 2001 pet, food, labelling
Labelling of Prepackaged Firewood Labelling Guidelines   June 13, 2003 labelling, firewood, prepackaged
Guidance on Labelling Textile Articles Derived from Bamboo Labelling Guidelines   March 11, 2009 bamboo, textile, labelling
"Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" Claims Labelling Guidelines   December 22, 2009 product of, made in, Canada, labelling
Market Studies Information Bulletin (general information about market studies) Market study Bulletin   September 19, 2018 market, study, analysis
Self-Regulated Professions — Post-study assessment Market study Report   September 2, 2011 professions, study, self-regulated
Self-Regulated Professions—Balancing Competition and Regulation Market study Report   December 11, 2007 self-regulated, competition, regulations
Guidance on the Labelling of Textiles for Businesses Labelling Guidelines   August 1, 2007 Labelling of Textiles for Businesses, Textiles, Labelling, Businesses, guidelines, Enforcement guidelines, Textile Labelling Act, Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations
Highlights from the Competition Bureau’s Workshop on Emerging Competition Issues Market study Report   March 4, 2016 disruptive, non-price, policy, competition
Generic Drug Sector Study Market study Report   October 29, 2007 generic, drug, supply, patent
Benefiting from Generic Drug Competition in Canada: The Way Forward Market study Report   November 25, 2008 generic, drug, pricing, competitive
Technology-led innovation in the Canadian financial services sector Market study Report   December 14, 2017 fintech, financial, technology
Big data and innovation: key themes for competition policy in Canada Market study Report   February 19, 2018 bid data, innovation, platforms
Pre-Merger Notification Interpretation Guidelines Mergers Guidelines   June 17, 2011 pre-merger, guideline, notification
Hostile Transactions Interpretation Guidelines Mergers Guidelines   July 27, 2011 hostile, notifiable, transactions
Notifiable Transactions Forms (short [s. 16]; long [s. 17]) Mergers Form/Template   February 11, 2003 notifiable, transactions, forms
Information Bulletin on Merger Remedies in Canada Mergers Bulletin   September 22, 2006 merger, remedial, remedies
Procedures Guide for Notifiable Transactions and Advance Ruling Certificates Under the Competition Act Mergers Bulletin   November 1, 2010 notifiable, transactions, advance ruling certificates
Competition Bureau Merger Remedies Study Summary Mergers Bulletin   August 11, 2011 merger, remedial, remedies
Merger Enforcement Guidelines Mergers Guidelines   October 6, 2011 merger, enforcement, competition
Merger Review Process Guidelines Mergers Guidelines   September 8, 2015 merger, review, agreements
Competition Bureau Mergers Consent Agreement Template Mergers Form/Template   September 29, 2016 merger, consent, agreement, template
Accuracy Requirements for Net Quantity Declarations Packaging/labelling Guidelines   October 1, 1999 net quantities, labelling, packaging
“Regulated” Conduct Policy Bulletin   September 27, 2010 conduct, regulated, federal provincial
Information Bulletin on the Communication of Confidential Information Under the Competition Act Policy Bulletin   September 30, 2013 confidential, information, communication
Guide to Marking Imported Items Made with Platinum Precious metals marking Guidelines   March 15, 1998 platinum, quality, mark
Guide to the Precious Metals Marking Act and Regulations Precious metals marking Guidelines   July 4, 2006 precious, metals, quality, mark
Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers Advertising/marketing Enforcement guidelines Archived June 25, 2008 Environmental Claims, industry, advertisers
Information Bulletin on Sections 15 and 16 of the Competition Act Search and seizure Bulletin   April 25, 2008 search, seizure, warrant
Corporate Compliance Programs General Bulletin   June 3, 2015 Corporate Compliance Programs, Bulletin, Compliance, Outreach
Corporate Compliance Programs General Bulletin Archived September 27, 2010 Corporate Compliance Programs, Bulletin, Compliance, Outreach