Companies doing business in Canada are subject to investigations by the Canadian Competition Bureau at any time, which may relate to civil and/or criminal provisions of Canada's Competition Act.
The reputational harm to companies publicly implicated in Bureau investigations can be substantial, and investigations are costly and disruptive to businesses. In addition, companies found to have violated the criminal or abuse of dominance provisions of the Competition Act may face criminal fines and significant consequences for their employees.
This toolkit outlines the types of Competition Bureau investigations a company may face and offers practical guidance on the following:
- What to do if an investigation is initiated
- Steps to take to investigate and assess any issues
- How to develop an effective competition law compliance program
- Steps to avoid or respond to private actions (including class proceedings) related to Competition Act
Resources include:
- Competition Bureau Investigation FAQs
- Search Warrant Checklist
- Sample Investigation Work Plan
- Best Practices on Reporting
- Competition Compliance Program Checklist
- Competition Law Compliance Audit and Checklist
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
