{"id":22641,"date":"2022-06-09T19:18:40","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T19:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2022\/06\/09\/corporate-pushback-is-building-against-trudeaus-plan-for-tougher-competition-law\/"},"modified":"2022-06-09T19:18:40","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T19:18:40","slug":"corporate-pushback-is-building-against-trudeaus-plan-for-tougher-competition-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2022\/06\/09\/corporate-pushback-is-building-against-trudeaus-plan-for-tougher-competition-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Corporate pushback is building against Trudeau&#8217;s plan for tougher competition law"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><\/div><p> \n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> News <\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> FP Economy <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p class=\"article-subtitle\"> &#8216;We don&#8217;t need any more backroom baseball or tapping the brakes on reform&#8217; <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"published-date\">\n<p>Publishing date:<\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"published-date__since\">Jun 09, 2022<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"updated-date__since\">4\u00a0hours ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"published-date__word-count\">4 minute read<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>  <span class=\"comment-bubble\"> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M4,0 C2.93914,0 1.921718,0.421428 1.171572,1.171572 C0.421428,1.921718 0,2.93914 0,4 L0,24 L3.846,20.158 L4,20.16 L20,20.16 C21.0608,20.16 22.0782,19.73858 22.8284,18.98842 C23.5786,18.23828 24,17.22086 24,16.16 L24,4 C24,2.93914 23.5786,1.921718 22.8284,1.171572 C22.0782,0.421428 21.0608,0 20,0 L4,0 Z M2,4 C2,3.46956 2.21072,2.96086 2.58578,2.58578 C2.96086,2.21072 3.46956,2 4,2 L20,2 C20.5304,2 21.0392,2.21072 21.4142,2.58578 C21.7892,2.96086 22,3.46956 22,4 L22,16.16 C22,16.69044 21.7892,17.19914 21.4142,17.57422 C21.0392,17.94928 20.5304,18.16 20,18.16 L4,18.16 L3.048,18.126 L2,19.174 L2,4 Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span> 30 Comments  <\/span> <\/div><\/div>\n<figure class=\"featured-image\"><picture class=\"featured-image__ratio\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"featured-image__caption image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Ottawa is receiving pushback over amendments it has tabled to the Competition Act that would, among other things, dramatically raise penalties on companies that break the rules.<\/span> <span class=\"distributor\">THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The federal government is facing pushback over its plan to make Canada\u2019s competition rules tougher \u2014 a sign, some advocates say, that the changes are making big business squirm.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment28730324665835497449493646005223\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment28730324665835497449493646005223\">Advertisement 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" id=\"ad-2\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:600px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p data-async=\"\">This spring, the government tabled a series of amendments to the Competition Act that would, among other things, dramatically raise penalties on companies that break the rules. The amendments would also make wage-fixing a criminal offence, a change that MPs have been calling for in the wake of the Hero Pay scandal in 2020, when the top three grocery chains all cancelled $2-an-hour bonuses for their staff on the same day.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">Policy experts, including the federal competition watchdog himself, have heaped criticism on Canada\u2019s competition rules in recent years, calling it too outdated and limp to scare modern, deep-pocketed corporations into doing the right thing. Some of those critics say the government\u2019s proposed amendments, tucked into the annual budget bill in April, are a no-brainer that will offer better protections for consumers and workers at a time of runaway inflation not seen in more than a generation. So the government can\u2019t afford to wait.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment9852372065538969640257666458827176\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment9852372065538969640257666458827176\">Advertisement 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" id=\"ad-3\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p data-async=\"\">But lawyers and think tanks have cautioned against cramming complex legal reform into an omnibus bill. As the Canadian Bar Association put it, the changes have nothing to do with the nation\u2019s budget, so they shouldn\u2019t be in a budget bill. The C.D. Howe Institute accused Ottawa of moving on the matter with \u201cundo haste.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Four Conservative MPs who sit on the industry committee wrote a letter on May 20 asking the government to pull the amendments from the budget bill because of \u201ca lack of consultation which may result in unintended and unforeseen consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of those unintended consequences, at least for business lobbyists, could be a chill on corporate investment in Canada. Currently, the so-called administrative monetary penalty for companies that break competition law is $10 million for the first offence, and $15 million for subsequent offences. Ottawa has recognized those fines are far too low to make much of a difference for any major market player. So the government wants to turn the penalty into a sliding scale.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment1580199930936624417279593276486623\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment1580199930936624417279593276486623\">Advertisement 4<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-4\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The government wants to be able to charge penalties that are three times the value of whatever benefit the company was deriving from its anti-competitive practices. And if that can\u2019t be calculated, the government will ask for three per cent of the company\u2019s gross global revenues. For multinational corporations with billions in sales, that\u2019s a big number.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat could potentially be a number that is hugely in excess of $10 million,\u201d said Michael Kilby, a lawyer who heads up the competition and foreign investment group at Stikeman Elliott LLP.<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian Chamber of Commerce called the proposed penalties a \u201cquantum leap from the status quo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">\u201cThe prospect of an opaque 3x value of quantifiable harm and, if that is not possible, tying penalties to global revenues \u2014 with no cap \u2014 could lead to unintended harmful consequences for the Canadian economy, including deterring investment,\u201d Mark Agnew, the chamber\u2019s senior vice president of policy and government relations, wrote in a brief to government.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2886373890921285130772800273830147\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment2886373890921285130772800273830147\">Advertisement 5<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-5\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Vass Bednar, one of the most outspoken advocates for competition reform, has dismissed some of the criticisms by saying \u201cpeople are squirming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t mean \u2018the people.\u2019 I mean corporate interests that have long benefited from the policy inertia on competition,\u201d Bednar, executive director of McMaster University\u2019s master of public policy program, told the House of Commons industry committee during a May 20 hearing to study the law changes. \u201cWe don\u2019t need any more backroom baseball or tapping the brakes on reform.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Industry Minister Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne\u2019s office, which oversees competition policy, is framing the budget bill amendments as a first step, a few quick fixes that can be done now, to be followed by a much broader review of the entire Competition Act that will look to update it for the digital age and bring it more in-line with allies.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment5329769215097172405947626785990578\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment5329769215097172405947626785990578\">Advertisement 6<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-6\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"6\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-6\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cWe have been clear that these amendments are a preliminary step to modernizing the act,\u201d Champagne\u2019s spokesperson Laurie Bouchard said in an email on June 8.<\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel4797281386959924770977521546393914\" class=\"more-topic\" data-carousel-component=\"\" data-carousel-icon-button=\"\" data-carousel-type=\"list\"> <button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-prev\" data-carousel-prev=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"previous\" type=\"button\"\/> <\/p>\n<ol class=\"more-topic__items list-unstyled\" data-carousel-slide-list=\"\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\">  <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Competition commissioner Matthew Boswell.\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/inflation0527.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"> <span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> Competition watchdog calls for \u2018vigorous enforcement\u2019 to combat rising prices <\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\">  <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Matthew Boswell is the commissioner of competition at the Competition Bureau.\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/boswell2-vw0510.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"> <span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> \u2018The cowboy commissioner\u2019: Competition watchdog steps in front of Rogers-Shaw merger <\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\">  <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an event in Hamilton, Ont. on April 8, 2022. \" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/no0408trudeau.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"> <span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> Trudeau planning changes to Canada\u2019s competition laws <\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-next\" data-carousel-next=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"next\" type=\"button\"\/> <\/section>\n<p data-async=\"\">For Bednar, that preliminary step is a crucial one. The amendments are a \u201cdown payment\u201d on reform, she told the industry committee last month. And they can\u2019t be delayed by corporate interests.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey are a test of whether Canada takes competition reform seriously. For way too long, we quite simply have not,\u201d she said. \u201cThese proposed changes are the absolute lowest hanging fruit. We shouldn\u2019t be examining them further at this point, because they clearly serve the public interest at a time when Canadians are under intense economic pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the pushback, Liberal MP and industry committee member Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said he suspects the Competition Act amendments will remain on the budget bill without substantial changes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think they will succeed,\u201d he said of the bill\u2019s opponents push to cut the amendments. \u201cI think Vass is right that it\u2019s important for the government to set down this marker and express its seriousness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\"><em>\u2022 Email: jedmiston@nationalpost.com | Twitter: <a class=\"twitter-follow-button\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jakeedmiston\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">jakeedmiston<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"1200\" id=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/modules.wearehearken.com\/financial-post\/embed\/9353\/share\" style=\"--height: 1200px; 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