Press Release Department: Federal - Competition Bureau of Canada

The Competition Bureau has published its 2026-2027 Annual Plan – Advancing Competition to Improve Affordability and Choice. In 2026-2027, we will: Prioritize investigations of anti-competitive conduct and mergers that raise costs or limit choice for Canadians, including sectors affecting essential household expenses, such as food and housing; Continue to crack down on deceptive marketing practices to reduce hidden costs and empower Canadians to … Read more

The Competition Bureau’s filing fee for merger reviews will increase from $88,690.45 to $90,198.19, effective April 1, 2026. The increase follows the annual adjustment framework described in the Service Fees Act. The full release is available online. Contact media-cb-bc@cb-bc.gc.ca.

The Competition Bureau has reached a consent agreement with Welltower OP LLC (Welltower) to address competition concerns related to its proposed acquisition of 34 retirement home properties from Amica Senior Lifestyles (Amica). It is the second such agreement this month following an agreement concluded with Chartwell. The full release is available online. Contact media-cb-bc@cb-bc.gc.ca.

The Competition Bureau has observed a rise in complaints involving false government affiliations. Fraudsters are using deepfake technology and fake government websites to impersonate government officials, like the Prime Minister. The Bureau’s media relations team are available this week to discuss how fraudsters are using artificial intelligence to impersonate government officials. The full release is available online. … Read more

The Competition Bureau published a report on how shared kitchens and food hubs can help small food producers enter the market and grow. The Bureau makes three recommendations to remove barriers for SMEs and increase competition: Harmonize food safety and licensing rules across jurisdictions. This would reduce regulatory duplication and provide small businesses with clarity on how to operate across multiple regions. Clarify compliance expectations and standardize inspection … Read more

The Competition Bureau has reached a consent agreement with Chartwell Master Care LP (Chartwell) to address competition concerns related to its proposed acquisition of six retirement homes from Sifton Properties Limited (Sifton). A Bureau review concluded that the proposed transaction would likely result in a substantial lessening of competition in health care services and accommodations … Read more

Competition Bureau Canada released information on AI-generated government impersonators. Scammers are using AI to impersonate government officials, politicians, and other high-profile leaders with a level of realism that’s harder than ever to spot. These impersonation tactics are used to steal money, collect personal information, install malware, and spread false information. The full release is available online. Contact media-cb-bc@cb-bc.gc.ca.

This March, the Competition Bureau, the CAFC and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are teaming up again for the 22nd edition of Fraud Prevention Month (FPM) to equip Canadians with the tools to recognize, reject, and report fraud. Acting Commissioner of Competition Jeanne Pratt stated, “AI has armed fraudsters with powerful tools to create highly convincing … Read more

Acting Commissioner of Competition, Jeanne Pratt, issued a statement: “We welcome the Competition Tribunal’s decision on this matter, which dismissed Google’s allegation that a constitutional right was breached. The Tribunal’s decision reinforces its clear authority to order administrative monetary penalties to promote compliance and deter anti-competitive behaviour. Our case against Google continues. We continue to … Read more

The pre-merger notification threshold will remain at $93 million in 2026, following a decision by the Minister of Industry. Under the Competition Act, mergers of all sizes are subject to review by the Competition Bureau. The Bureau must generally receive advance notice of proposed transactions when: the company being acquired’s assets in Canada, or revenues from sales in, from, or into Canada generated from those assets exceed $93 … Read more