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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

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

AI is rapidly integrating into enterprise workflows, yet vendor agreements often lag behind in safeguarding organizational risk. This article highlights the hidden hazards in standard AI terms and conditions, including data usage, IP ownership, liability limits and regulatory compliance gaps and outlines strategies to strengthen contractual oversight.

The Hidden Hazards of Vendor AI Terms and Conditions

"We signed what?!": The Hidden Hazards of Vendor AI Terms and Conditions

Luke Morrison

Energy Project Development, M&A, and Commercial Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Ashley M. White

Corporate, Commercial Transactions, Power & Energy Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Pamela Clark

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary 

Associate 

The federal government has released a second wave of major projects recommended for expedited review by the Major Projects Office, with a focused shift toward critical minerals and energy development. The list includes strategic clean power, LNG, nickel, graphite, tungsten, and hydro initiatives across multiple provinces and territories. While the anticipated Alberta&ndash;BC pipeline was not included, the selected projects underscore Canada&rsquo;s intent to strengthen energy security, support Indigenous-led development, and accelerate investment in key resource sectors.

Second Wave of Fast Tracked Projects Unveiled including Critical Minerals and Energy Projects

Second Wave of Fast-Tracked Projects Unveiled including Critical Minerals and Energy Projects

Oliver Loxley

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Dom Sorbara

Banking & Financial Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

In the context of corporate debt, 'liability management' refers to a company taking steps to manage its existing debt obligations. This often involves a combination of one or more open market repurchases, redemptions/repayments, consent solicitations, tender offers or exchange offers and may involve other transactions. A repurchase of debt from a holder is one of the most straight-forward examples of liability management.

Liability Management in Canada

Andrew Bozzato

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

Bishoy Attia

Articling Student at Bennett Jones in Toronto

Articling Student

Private investment in the defence sector is accelerating as governments realign policy priorities and expand support for dual-use and DefTech innovation. Canada&rsquo;s 2025 Budget and long-term spending commitments are reshaping the industry, driving new opportunities across AI, cyber, space, advanced manufacturing and critical infrastructure. With global capital flowing into defence technology and structural reforms underway to modernize procurement, the sector is rapidly transitioning from fragmented to fully investable.

Policy Dual Use and DefTech Drive a New Era for Private Capital in Defence

Policy, Dual-Use and DefTech Drive a New Era for Private Capital in Defence

Daron K. Naffin

Energy, Environmental/Regulatory and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tim Myers

Regulatory, Environmental, Aboriginal and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Thomas Machell

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

On November 4, 2025, the Alberta Energy Regulator released AERH2S, an updated version of its computer model for calculating Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) for sour gas applications. AERH2S replaces the longstanding ERCBH2S model and is available for immediate use by industry. According to AER Bulletin 2025-34, the use of AERH2S will become mandatory for all applications filed under Directive 056: Energy Development Applications and Schedules, including amendment applications, starting January 1, 2026. The continued use of ERCBH2S is permitted for updates to existing EPZs (and any EPZs established before January 1, 2026) under Directive 071: Emergency Preparedness and Response until further notice.

Alberta Energy Regulator Releases New AERH2S Model for Sour Gas Operations

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BennettJones

Aitken Melanie

Competition Antitrust

Mergers Acquisitions

United States of America