Recent Articles

Canadian government to loosen foreign ownership restrictions in telecommunications sector

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 15, 2012 18:29

Susan M. Hutton, T. Gregory Kane & David Elder - As part of its plan to auction rights for the 700 MHz spectrum band, the Canadian government announced yesterday that it plans to amend the Telecommunications Act to lift foreign investment restrictions for telecommunications companies...

Canadian government to loosen foreign ownership restrictions in telecommunications sector

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 15, 2012 18:29

As part of its plan to auction rights for the 700 MHz spectrum band, the Canadian government announced yesterday that it plans to amend the Telecommunications Act to lift foreign investment restrictions for telecommunications companies holding less than a 10 per-cent share of the total Canadian...

Canadian court comes down hard on misleading business directory scam

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 15, 2012 14:14

Ashley Weber - On March 1, 2012, the Ontario Superior Court put an end to a deceptive marketing scam that had resulted in thousands of Canadians falling victim to false and misleading representations, to the tune of an estimated $7 million. In response to an application filed by the...

Federal Court of Appeal addresses limitation period under the Competition Act

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 15, 2012 12:56

Sultana L. Bennett - The Federal Court of Appeal, in a recent decision under the Competition Act, (the Act), has confirmed that the effects of a conspiracy do not have the effect of extending the limitation period under the Act, but also declined to close the door against the extension of...

Internet Predators bill would expand investigative powers in the Competition Act

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 12, 2012 13:37

Michael Laskey - On February 14, 2012, the Minister of Public Safety tabled Bill C-30, the government’s most recent proposal for so-called “lawful access” legislation which would enhance its online surveillance powers. Titled the Protecting Children from Internet Predators...

Novel costs award in trial of first buyer-side conspiracy claim for damages in Canada

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 02, 2012 16:00

Michael Kilby and Kim Lawton - The Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta has recently ruled in 321665 Alberta Ltd. v. ExxonMobil Canada Ltd,  on several issues relating to costs under section 36 of the Competition Act. The ruling follows an award of damages in a civil case involving a rare...

Rogers Communications claims misleading advertising case, AMPs violate Canadian Constitution

Stikeman Elliott LLP
March 02, 2012 13:34

Susan M. Hutton and Marisa Berswick - Rogers Communications Inc. will appear before the Ontario Superior Court in June, claiming that two aspects of the Competition Act dealing with civilly reviewable misleading advertising are unconstitutional: AMPs (administrative monetary penalties) in the...

Quebec construction companies plead guilty to bid-rigging in Chicoutimi hospital expansion project

Stikeman Elliott LLP
February 18, 2012 19:04

Susan Hutton and Robert Mysicka - On February 17, the Competition Bureau announced that three construction companies—Construction G.T.R.L. (1990) Inc., Acoustique JCG Inc., and Entreprises de Construction OPC Inc.—have pled guilty to charges of bid-rigging in a construction project...

Bureau's decision to launch merger register raises confidentiality issues under the Competition Act.

Stikeman Elliott LLP
February 09, 2012 13:58

Susan Hutton & Robert Mysicka - On February 6, 2012, the Competition Bureau announced that as part of its efforts to increase transparency in the merger review process it will begin publishing monthly reports of concluded mergers.  The first report, for the month of February, will be...

Increased 2012 thresholds for Competition Act notification and Investment Canada Act review

Stikeman Elliott LLP
February 07, 2012 16:28

Susan M. Hutton - The thresholds for review of acquisitions involving Canadian businesses will soon increase under both the Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act. The Competition Bureau (Canada) announced on February 7, 2012 that, effective February 11, the pre-merger notification...