Category Archives: Articles

November 2, 2023

Quebec Amends Publicity Contest Laws Making it Easier to Run Canada Wide Contests

On October 27, 2023, the province of Quebec made significant changes to its rules relating to publicity contests open to Quebec residents. In this regard, it repealed the provisions of its provincial Act respecting lotteries, publicity contests, and amusement machines relating to publicity contests and … Read the rest of this entry »

October 18, 2023

Canadian Competition Bureau Issues New Competitive Intensity Report

On October 19, 2023, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) released a new study of competitive intensity in Canada between 2000 and 2020 (see: Competition Bureau report finds Canada’s competitive intensity in decline). In announcing its new study (Competition in Canada from 2000 to 2020: An Economy … Read the rest of this entry »

October 5, 2023

Dufresne Group Settles Ordinary Selling Price (OSP) and Urgency Cue Marketing Case with Competition Bureau For $3.25 Million

On September 27, 2023, the Canadian Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that the Dufresne Group Inc. (TDG) (Dufresne Group), based in Manitoba, had agreed to settle an ordinary selling price (OSP) and urgency cue marketing related case for CDN $3.25 million (see: Competition Bureau, News Release, … Read the rest of this entry »

May 19, 2023

Competition Bureau Sues Cineplex for Allegedly Misleading Upfront Ticket Prices (Drip Pricing)

On May 18, 2023, the Competition Bureau announced that it was suing Cineplex Inc. (Cineplex) for allegedly advertising misleading ticket prices (see: Competition Bureau sues Cineplex for allegedly advertising misleading ticket prices). The Bureau has alleged, in its civil application to the Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) … Read the rest of this entry »

May 17, 2023

New Competition Bureau Compliance Portal: Canadian Advertising/Marketing Law Compliance Guidance

In March 2023, Canada’s federal Competition Bureau (Bureau) launched a new competition law Compliance Portal (see: Consultation on new Compliance Portal). In making its announcement, the Bureau said that it launched its new Compliance Portal to help businesses stay on the right side of Canadian … Read the rest of this entry »

April 29, 2023

Canadian Telemarketer Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Fraudulent Online Directory Scam

On April 28, 2023, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that Terry Croteau, a Canadian telemarketer, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison and to pay a fine of $1.28 million for running a fraudulent online directory scam (see: here). See also: 30 Months in … Read the rest of this entry »

April 22, 2023

Canadian Competition Bureau’s 2023-2024 Annual Plan: Increased Litigation, Competition Act Amendments and Focus on Digital Economy

On April 17, 2023, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) published its new Annual Plan (see: 2023-2024 Annual Plan: Driving Competition Forward For All Canadians). In announcing its new Annual Plan, the Commissioner of Competition said: “I’m happy to present the Competition Bureau’s Annual Plan for 2023-2024, … Read the rest of this entry »

April 17, 2023

New Competition Bureau Guidance on Drip Pricing Advertising Claims

On April 17, 2023 the Competition Bureau (Bureau) published a new edition of its Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest (Volume 6) (Marketing Digest). The Bureau’s new Marketing Digest discusses three Canadian advertising/marketing related topics: the use of scarcity cues (i.e., claims that an offering has limited availability), … Read the rest of this entry »