Regulation Of Competition

Competition is good. In most industrialized countries, including Canada, this belief in the value of competition – that consumer and businesses prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace – is a backbone of domestic and global economic policy. This belief is also the underpinning for the creation and enforcement of global and domestic competition/antitrust laws, including Canada’s Competition Act.  The Competition Act seeks to maintain and encourage competition in Canada, primarily through public and private enforcement. Competition law, enforcement and policy feature prominently in political debate and in the press, particular due to concentration concerns and the vigorous enforcement of competition laws. This course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of competition law, enforcement and policy and the analytical tools necessary to assess (1) the impact of such on a firm’s behaviour and consumer well-being, and (2) how law can be applied to a firm’s business conduct.  Key topics considered in detail in this course are:  (1) all aspects of Canada’s Competition Act, including its reviewable practices and criminal offences; (2) the respective roles, investigative powers and decision making powers of the Canadian Competition Bureau, the Commissioner of Competition, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Competition Tribunal and the Courts; (3) mergers; (4) collusion among competitors; (5) abuse of dominance or monopolization; (6) deceptive marketing practices; and (7) private enforcement.  
Why take this course?
Individuals and firms, both small and large, require advice to ensure their conduct does not violate the criminal and civil provisions of competition law, is in compliance with all regulatory requirements, and does not result in exposure to civil suits by competitors, customers and suppliers. As a result, a basic knowledge of competition law is useful to anyone whose practice will have commercial aspects.  Practitioners whose work may benefit from some knowledge of competition law include:  
· Corporate and commercial practitioners (whether in a transactional or litigation practice) regardless of size of firm;
· Plaintiffs’ side lawyers (including tort lawyers);
· Criminal defence lawyers;
· Intellectual property lawyers;
· Lawyers who advise clients in industries subject to regulation;
· In-house lawyers who counsel business people about the legality of business plans and communications in the regular course of business; and  
· Government lawyers.
 Note: The instructor of this course/ seminar has indicated a preference or willingness to conduct optional in-person meetings for students. All in-person meetings will be optional for students until the general return to in-person instruction that is expected for the winter 2022 term. Any in-person meetings in the fall 2021 term that cover examinable course content will be accompanied by a remote participation option, such as a separate remote class, live dual delivery, and/ or a recording of the class, at the instructor’s discretion. More information will follow from the instructor after students have enrolled; please also note that there is no guarantee of in-person instruction in any course or seminar.