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Melanie L. Aitken

Global Antitrust and Competition Law and Litigation Advisor at Bennett Jones Washington

Managing Principal, Bennett Jones (US) LLP

Adam Kalbfleisch

Competition, Foreign Investment Review and Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

Emrys Davis

Commercial Litigation, Competition and Class Action Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

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 at Bennett Jones Toronto

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 at Bennett Jones Toronto

Chief Executive Officer

Patrick T. Maguire KC

Leading Canadian and International Energy and Commercial Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

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

On April 26, 2022, the government of Canada revealed significant proposed amendments to the Competition Act as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1. As expected, these amendments have now come into force with the BIA receiving Royal Assent on June 23, 2022. The changes constitute the first step in the federal government's plan for comprehensive reform to the Act, characterized by the government as an initiative to improve the effectiveness of the Act, and better protect Canadian consumers and the integrity of the marketplace.

First Round of Competition Act Amendments Now in Force

Denise D. Bright

Public and Private Company Financial Transactions and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner 

Keely Cameron

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Chyna Brown

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary 

Associate

In Royal Bank of Canada v Patterson Dental Canada Inc, the Alberta Court of Appeal clarified how PPSA priority rules apply where assets used in a corporate business are personally owned by a director. The Court confirmed that ownership and registration against the correct debtor are decisive in priority disputes, and provided guidance on the treatment of leases and the proper distribution of holdbacks in insolvency sales.

Alberta Court of Appeal Clarifies PPSA Priorities in Insolvency Sales

Katherine Booth

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Nina Butz

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

In RateMDs Inc. v. Bleuler, 2025 BCCA 329, the BC Court of Appeal overturned certification of a proposed privacy class action, finding that the plaintiff's novel claims that use of health professionals' names violated their privacy and amounted to commercial exploitation under provincial privacy statutes were bound to fail.

BC Court of Appeal dismisses proposed privacy class action

BC Court of Appeal Dismisses Proposed Privacy Class Action; Finds Use of Professionals' Names Was Not Commercial Exploitation 

Andrew Bozzato

Corporate, M&A, Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Oscar Crawford-Ritchie

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Canadian government recently formalized its commitment to the quantum computing sector with the launch of Phase 1 of the Canadian Quantum Champions Program (CQCP), under which it has committed up to C$92 million (C$23 million each), to four Canadian-headquartered quantum computing companies to accelerate the development of industrial-scale quantum computers capable of solving real-world problems across industries in a variety of commercial and defence applications.

Quantum Computing Investments Aligning with Canadas Defence Priorities

Quantum Computing Investments Aligning with Canada's Defence Priorities

William S. Osler KC

Capital Markets, Securities, M&A and Corporate Governance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Olu Akinniyi

Articling Student

Recent amendments to Alberta&rsquo;s Securities Act strengthen the Alberta Securities Commission&rsquo;s ability to address financial misinformation and protect investors. Enacted through the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), the changes expand the definition of forward-looking information and grant the ASC new authority to temporarily halt trading where misleading or inaccurate information is being disseminated. While aimed at curbing harmful online promotion, including by &ldquo;finfluencers,&rdquo; the amendments also have important implications for reporting issuers and their disclosure practices.

Alberta Expands ASC Powers to Address Financial Misinformation

Laura James

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Rebecca Burnand

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Madison Sutherland

Newly released market data out of the US shows the demand for beauty products remained strong in 2025 despite pressure on overall consumer spending. Beauty M&amp;A deal volume in the US decreased slightly this year due to tariff and trade concerns, but analysts are optimistic for a busier 2026 on the dealmaking front.

Melanie Aitken in Law Times on Working with Canada's Competition Bureau

From the Same Authors