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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

 Partner and Class Actions National Practice Group Leader

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 Sets

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, Michelle Yung 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

Steven L. Major KC

Commercial Litigation Lawyer | Energy

Audrix Arce

Associate

At the 75th Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) conference, industry leaders, government officials and Indigenous partners explored the opportunities and challenges shaping Canada's energy future. Discussions focused on regulatory certainty, interprovincial cooperation, AI and data centre growth, value-added energy development, and the importance of early Indigenous and landowner engagement. The key takeaway was clear: Canada has a strategic window to advance energy infrastructure and attract investment, but success will depend on timely action, collaboration and execution.

Key Takeaways from the Energy Business Forum at CEEA 75

Key Takeaways from the Energy Business Forum at CEEA '75

Simon Grant

Financial Services & Regulatory Lawyer

Partner 

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kwang Lim

Corporate and Securities Lawyer

Vancouver Managing Partner

Canada is taking a category-by-category approach to regulating prediction markets, with the CSA and CIRO permitting certain event contracts while directing others outside the securities and derivatives framework. This article examines Canada's emerging regulatory landscape and the key considerations for platforms, dealers, financial institutions and investors participating in these evolving markets.

Prediction Markets in Canada A Category-by-Category Regulatory Framework

Prediction Markets in Canada: A Category-by-Category Regulatory Framework

Christopher J. Doucet

Corporate & Mining Lawyer | M&A & Corporate Finance

In the September edition of Canadian Mining Journal, Christopher Doucet and Zirjan Derwa explore how the Canada-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap may reshape the investment landscape for Chinese participation in Canada's mining sector. They discuss whether greater regulatory clarity could encourage investment in base and precious metals while maintaining Canada's national security protections for critical mineral assets.

Canadian Mining Journal New policy roadmap

Canadian Mining Journal: New policy roadmap may help miners navigate Chinese investment landscape

Ethan Z. Schiff

Class Actions & Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Bobbie Alvernaz

The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the denial of certification in a proposed class action alleging childhood sexual abuse within Canadian Jehovah&rsquo;s Witness congregations. The Court found insufficient commonality among the proposed class members&rsquo; claims, which involved different perpetrators, congregations and circumstances, and agreed that individual or joinder actions would be the preferable procedure. The decision also distinguishes Gutierrez from other institutional abuse class actions where defendants had a more direct and common relationship with the alleged abuse.

Ontario Court of Appeal Refuses to Certify Institutional Abuse

Ontario Court of Appeal Refuses to Certify Institutional Abuse Class Action With No Common Perpetrator, Activity or Location 

Larissa D. Lees

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jessica Kennedy

Bennett Jones attended the Data Centre West 2026 Conference in Calgary earlier this month, hosted by the Western Canada Data Centre Alliance, and engaged with representatives from industry, government and regulatory agencies on the issues facing Alberta's rapidly growing digital infrastructure sector. This year, discussions spanned the hyperscale and AI demand outlook, power procurement and grid access challenges, Alberta's regulatory framework, supply chain constraints and labour availability, and sustainability and community engagement, reflecting a sector that has moved well beyond early-stage interest and into active development and investment.

Melanie Aitken Discusses Rejoining Bennett Jones on BNN

From the Same Authors