Summary Policy and Legal Competition Updates — timely analysis on Canadian competition law for Canadian and American practitioners.
Abaki Law publishes timely analysis on Canadian competition law for Canadian and American practitioners. Our articles are written for counsel advising on cross-border matters and for in-house teams navigating Canada's rapidly evolving competition law landscape. Every file: Rigour & Clarity.
SPLC — Summary Policy and Legal Competition Updates · A nod to the Competition Act's "substantial prevention or lessening of competition" standard.Between June 2022 and June 2024, Parliament enacted three successive waves of amendments to Canada's Competition Act — the most sweeping overhaul of Canadian competition law since 1986. For counsel advising clients with Canadian operations, understanding the cumulative effect of these changes is now essential. This article summarizes key reforms introduced by Bills C-19, C-56, and C-59.
On January 13, 2026, the Competition Tribunal released its first decision interpreting the new public interest standing pathway under section 103.1(7) of the Competition Act. Although leave was denied, Martin v. Alphabet is the leading authority on the test for public interest standing. For practitioners advising parties considering — or facing — a private enforcement action, understanding this framework is now essential.
The 2022–2024 amendments dramatically increased AMPs under the Competition Act — including penalties equal to 3% of worldwide gross revenues. Google challenged the constitutionality of these provisions in the context of the Bureau's abuse of dominance application. On March 3, 2026, the Tribunal dismissed the challenge. The decision is currently under appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal.