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Melanie L. Aitken

Antitrust & Competition Law Advisor

Managing Principal, Bennett Jones (US) LLP

Cheryl M. Woodin

Commercial Litigation & Trial Lawyer

Partner

Emrys Davis

Competition & Antitrust Litigation Lawyer

In Martin v. Alphabet, the Competition Tribunal issued its first decision interpreting the new public-interest pathway for private access under section 103.1(7) of the Competition Act. While affirming an intention to broaden access, the Tribunal articulated a flexible but rigorous three-part framework that places real weight on evidence, genuine interest and the applicant&rsquo;s capacity to prosecute complex competition cases. The decision underscores that public interest alone is insufficient without a coherent, Canada-focused evidentiary record and a credible litigation plan.

Martin v Alphabet Tribunal

Martin v. Alphabet: Tribunal Sets the Public Interest Leave Framework—Evidence and Capacity Now the Gatekeepers

Adam Kalbfleisch

Competition & Regulatory Lawyer | Foreign Investment

In our previous Bennett Jones insight, we discussed several amendments to the Competition Act introduced by the Government of Canada in 2023, with the most recent set coming into force on June 20, 2024. These amendments, which follow earlier changes from June 2022 and December 2023, significantly revamp the merger review provisions and expand deceptive marketing practices. The Finance Committee's rushed review and the Commissioner of Competition's submissions influenced these changes, resulting in new market share presumptions and higher requirements for remedial orders.

Revamped Competition Act Radically Alters Canadian Competition Law

Zirjan (Zee) J. Derwa

Competition and Foreign Investment Review Lawyer

Following several years of lively public discussion, two high-profile consultations and the introduction of several “interim amendments” to the Competition Act in 2022, the federal government has now tabled two new bills (<a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-56" target="_blank">Bill C-56</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-59" target="_blank">Bill C-59</a>), which together, would introduce the most significant reforms to Canadian competition policy in several decades.

Federal Government to Significantly Overhaul the Competition Act

Dominique T. Hussey

Chief Executive Officer and Intellectual Property Litigator, Pharma/Biotech and Trademark Lawyer

Chief Executive Officer

Patrick T. Maguire KC

Energy & Project Development Lawyer | Oil, Gas & Power

Vice Chair and Partner

To mark this year's International Women's Day, we are proud to present a candid leadership conversation on the challenges women face in the legal field. Our five office managing partners—<a href="/People/A/Aitken-Melanie" target="_self">Melanie Aitken</a>, Radha Curpen, <a href="/People/H/Hussey-Dominique" target="_self">Dominique Hussey</a>, <a href="/People/M/Maguire-Patrick" target="_self">Pat Maguire</a> and <a href="/People/S/Stratton-Barbara" target="_self">Barbara Stratton</a>—are joined by moderator and Bennett Jones partner, <a href="/People/Y/Yung-Michelle" target="_self">Michelle Yung</a> as they share perspectives from their lived experiences. This discussion highlights the importance of acting purposely to create an workplace where women can thrive.

IWD 2023 Workplaces Where Women Thrive

IWD 2023: Workplaces Where Women Thrive

Wesley R. Novotny

Corporate Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Wade Ritchie

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

Zachary Thacker

In the April 28, 2026 Spring Economic Update, the federal government announced its intention to make permanent the C$10 million capital gains exemption available on certain sales of businesses to employee ownership trusts and worker cooperatives, which exemption was previously set to expire at the end of 2026. This amendment has now passed into law as part of Bill C-30, which received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026.

Capital Gains Exemption Made Permanent for Employee Ownership Trusts

A Major Boost for Canadian Business Succession

C$10 Million Capital Gains Exemption Made Permanent for Employee Ownership Trusts 

Curtis A. Cusinato

Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Lawyer

Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions Services

Tyler B. McAuley

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kevin Myson

Energy & Corporate Lawyer | M&A, Natural Resources & Transport

Canada&rsquo;s M&amp;A market remained resilient through the first half of 2026, with deal activity increasingly concentrated in large, strategically important transactions despite ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. This quarterly update explores the sectors driving Canadian M&amp;A, including energy, digital infrastructure and real estate, and examines how policy developments, AI-related demand and shifting investment priorities are shaping dealmaking trends. It also highlights key opportunities and considerations for investors as activity is expected to accelerate in the second half of the year.

Canadas Q2 2026 MA Landscape

Sustained Momentum Driven by Energy Investment and AI-Related Demand

Canada's Q2 2026 M&A Landscape

Jessica Kennedy

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Martin Ignasiak KC

Energy & Industrial Projects Lawyer

Head of Energy Regulatory Services

Larissa D. Lees

On June 9, 2026, the Government of Alberta enacted the Data Centre Regulation, AR 117/2026 under the Electric Utilities Act, codifying the province&rsquo;s &ldquo;bring your own generation&rdquo; policy and providing the legal foundation for the Alberta Electric System Operator&rsquo;s grid connection process for large data centres.&nbsp;

Albertas BYOG Framework

Alberta's BYOG Framework: What Data Centre and Generation Proponents Need to Know

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Technology Lawyer & Trademark Agent

Partner, Trademark Agent

Caroline Poirier

IT, Privacy & Data Protection Lawyer

Stephen D. Burns

Energy & Infrastructure Technology Lawyer | IT/OT & Markets

Earlier this month, the federal government introduced the proposed federal Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act (PPCDA) &ndash; a signal that Canada&rsquo;s private-sector privacy landscape may undergo significant transformation imminently. To assist organizations that conduct business in Canada with their potential compliance efforts with respect thereto, the following is intended to provide a non-exhaustive, high-level comparison between: (i) the PPCDA; (ii) Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA); (iii) Qu&eacute;bec&rsquo;s Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (the Qu&eacute;bec Privacy Act, as amended by Law 25); and (iv) the Personal Information Protection Acts of Alberta and British Columbia (collectively, the PIPAs).

A Comparison of the PPCDA PIPEDA Quebecs Privacy Act and PIPA

A Comparison of the PPCDA, PIPEDA, Quebec's Privacy Act and PIPA

Adam W. Taylor

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Simon Grant

Financial Services & Regulatory Lawyer

Partner 

Canada's proposed Consumer-Driven Banking Regulations provide the first detailed framework for implementing the country's open banking regime, setting out requirements for accreditation, security, consent, data sharing and ongoing compliance. The proposed regulations also highlight the growing connection between consumer-driven banking and privacy reform, particularly as Canada advances broader data mobility rights. Organizations should assess the potential impact of the framework and consider participating in the current consultation process. 
<div>&nbsp;</div>

Melanie Aitken Interviewed by BNN on Oil and Gas Markets

From the Same Authors