Canadian Chamber statement regarding the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance’s clause-by-clause study of Bill C-59

On Tuesday, April 30, during the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance’s clause-by-clause study of Bill C-59, significant amendments to the Competition Act were adopted without warning and without consultation of the businesses of all sizes that will be affected.

Since 2022, the government has introduced multiple changes to the Competition Act, using omnibus bills, late-night amendments and closed-door committee meetings to avoid accountability. This piecemeal approach lacks transparency and raises real concerns on both process and the substance of the legislation.  

The latest proposed changes will bring Canada out of step with international best practices and raise regulatory compliance costs, including on SMEs, and will likely reduce rather than increase competition.The government must correct course on this approach to policymaking and provide stakeholders an opportunity to express their concerns with these latest proposals, ensuring that legislators are able to make informed decisions.

Matthew Holmes, Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations, Canadian Chamber of Commerce