Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, INDUSTRY NEWS: John Pecman to Head Canada’s Competition Bureau, (Jun 13, 2013)
Organizations Mentioned:Air Canada | Bennett Jones, LLP | Direct Energy | Waste Management
John Pecman has been appointed to a five-year term as Commissioner of Competition, the top position in the Competition Bureau, Canada’s antitrust authority, the agency has announced.
Pecman had served as Interim Commissioner of Competition for the Competition Bureau since September 2012, following the departure of former Commissioner Melanie Aitken, now Co-Chair of Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment at the Canada-based law firm Bennett Jones LLP. In his interim position, Pecman guided the Bureau’s continued investigation of and litigation over significant merger cases, deceptive marketing practices, and other civil and criminal matters. A 29-year veteran at the Bureau, Pecman has held a variety of senior investigative and managerial positions, including Senior Deputy Commissioner of the Criminal Matters Branch, where he directed significant criminal investigations. He has worked in every enforcement branch at the Bureau.
"I am pleased that Mr. Pecman will continue to contribute significantly to the Competition Bureau in assuming this key leadership role," said Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry, Minister of State (Agriculture) and Minister responsible for the Competition Bureau. "His proven commitment to protecting and promoting a fair, competitive and innovative marketplace will benefit Canadian consumers and businesses alike."
Pecman’s work as Interim Commissioner included consent agreements in the Air Canada/United Continental joint venture, the Waste Management/RCI mergers, and the Bell/Astral merger; ongoing litigation against Rogers, Bell, TELUS and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association regarding premium text messaging services; the successful response to the appeal of the CCS decision regarding hazardous waste disposal in British Columbia; a preliminary hearing into retail gasoline price-fixing in Quebec and additional charges laid against Irving Oil; the recommendation of further charges in a price-fixing conspiracy involving the construction industry in Quebec; the completion of the Competition Tribunal proceedings against the Toronto Real Estate Board; and the commencing of proceedings against Direct Energy and Reliance Comfort for anti-competitive practices in the water heater market.
Pecman is an economist who received a Master of Arts from McMaster University. He also represents the Bureau on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Competition Committee and in the Steering Group of the International Competition Network.
The Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency, administers and enforces the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act, the Textile Labeling Act, and the Precious Metals Marking Act. The Bureau investigates a variety of potentially anti-competitive activities, including price fixing, bid rigging, abuse of dominant position, exclusive dealing, tied selling, refusals to deal, mergers, market restrictions, false or misleading representations, pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing, deceptive telemarketing, and deceptive marketing practices.
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