Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Canada Competition Bureau, Ontario consumer protection agency pledge to work together, (Mar 23, 2015)

By Greg Hammond, J.D.

The Canada Competition Bureau and the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together in order to combat false advertising and deceptive marketing practices and to make digital and traditional marketplaces safer and fairer. The MOU was signed to strengthen consumer protection and to foster competition.

To strengthening compliance with, and enforcement of, Canada’s Competition Act and Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, the two agencies have committed to: (1) notifying each other about matters of mutual interest; (2) sharing information concerning enforcement, strategic priorities, marketplace trends, and policies; (3) participating in knowledge transfer sessions to increase expertise in areas of mutual interest; (4) coordinating communications to the public on consumer protection and competition matters; and (5) meeting semi-annually to discuss the issues outlined above and to explore further opportunities for cooperation and coordination.

“This MOU will provide the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and the Competition Bureau greater leverage in assuring that Canadians benefit from the important work of both our organizations,” stated Commissioner of Competition John Pecman. “Combining our expertise and the tools available to us will inevitably have a positive impact on the delivery of our respective mandates.”

“Working together on education, compliance and enforcement will foster competition and strengthen consumer protection,” said Wendy Tilford, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. “This MOU provides a blueprint for collaborating on marketplace issues and matters of mutual interest.”

News: Advertising Antitrust ConsumerProtection