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TAGGED AS COMPETITION BUREAU

Competition Bureau wants feedback on artificial intelligence

Internet and Governance | 03/21/2024 6:41 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau announced Thursday that it is seeking feedback from Canadians on artificial intelligence (AI). It has published a discussion paper on AI and competition to start the public consultation. The bureau said it wants to learn more about how competition...

UPDATED: Competition Bureau expands probe into Google’s advertising practices in Canada

Internet and Governance | 02/29/2024 4:22 pm EST

The Competition Bureau announced Thursday that it has secured a court order aimed at gathering crucial information to bolster its investigation into Alphabet...

CRTC uses forensic tools sparingly, ETHI committee told

Internet and Governance | 02/08/2024 5:37 pm EST

The CRTC has forensic investigative tools but deploys them rarely, the...

Rogers fires back at Competition Bureau over wireless plan investigation

telecom | 12/05/2023 5:47 pm EST

Rogers Communications Inc. is responding vehemently to the Competition...

Rogers awarded $13 million from Competition Bureau in Shaw deal

telecom | 08/30/2023 5:29 pm EDT

Rogers Communications Inc. has been awarded nearly $13 million in costs...

News companies ask Competition Bureau to look at Meta news-blocking

Media | 08/08/2023 12:40 pm EDT

A group of news organizations have filed an application with the Competition Bureau over Meta Platforms Inc.’s decision to block Canadian news feeds from Facebook and...

Competition Bureau releases recommendations for changes to law

Internet and Governance | 03/15/2023 5:24 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau Wednesday released its recommendations regarding...

On Rogers-Shaw, Champagne faces policy choice

Media | 01/26/2023 11:48 am EST

All eyes are on Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who is the last line of defense for...

Updated: Federal Court of Appeal dismisses Competition Bureau case

Media | 01/24/2023 3:08 pm EST

Tuesday afternoon the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed with costs the...

Konrad von Finckenstein named to Order of Canada

Media | 01/04/2023 4:54 pm EST

Former CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada. The honour...

UPDATED: Rogers comes out victorious in competition challenge over Shaw buyout

Media | 12/30/2022 12:34 am EST

Canada’s Competition Tribunal is dismissing the Commissioner of...

Competition Bureau undercuts its own case, National Bank analyst maintains

Media | 12/21/2022 3:25 pm EST

As spectators await the release of a decision in the takeover of Shaw...

CRTC’s regulatory policy plays central role in Rogers-Shaw closing arguments

Media | 12/16/2022 9:47 am EST

In the drama that has unfolded in front of the Competition Tribunal over...

Rogers-Shaw Tribunal hearings reveal the extent of Telus efforts to block merger

Media | 11/14/2022 5:59 pm EST

The second week of the Competition Tribunal's hearing into whether or not Rogers Communications Inc. should be allowed to acquire Shaw Communications Inc. and sell Shaw's...

Champagne announcement may signal eagerness to approve Rogers-Shaw deal: analysts

Media | 10/26/2022 2:56 pm EDT

Financial analysts reacting to Tuesday's announcement from Innovation...

Rogers, Shaw, accused of fishing expedition over Bell, Telus, subpoenas

Media | 10/20/2022 12:37 pm EDT

Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. have accused Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw...

Rogers wants more details on how Québecor-Freedom deal allegedly harms competition

Media | 09/09/2022 5:02 pm EDT

Rogers Communications Inc. wants competition commissioner Matthew Boswell...

VMedia purchase will sweeten Freedom deal for regulators: Quebecor’s PKP

Media | 08/04/2022 5:37 pm EDT

Quebecor Inc.’s president and CEO has said the company’s recent...

Competition Bureau not satisfied with Freedom divestiture to Quebecor

Media | 07/06/2022 9:55 am EDT

In a Wednesday morning joint statement, Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. say that mediation sessions with the Competition Bureau have failed to assuage...

Lawson Hunter appointed to Order of Canada

telecom | 01/04/2022 12:59 pm EST

Lawson Hunter, a former Commissioner of the Competition Bureau and a one-time BCE Inc. executive, has...

Court orders Google to turn over documents to Competition Bureau

Media | 10/22/2021 6:06 pm EDT

The Federal Court has ordered Alphabet Inc.'s Google to turn over a number...

CRTC delays MVNO hearing to Feb. 18

telecom | 10/28/2019 4:10 pm EDT

The CRTC’s public hearing in its review of mobile wireless services, which was originally scheduled to be held in January, has now been pushed back to Feb. 18. The regulator said in a notice Monday that the Competition Bureau...

Some consumers uncertain about wholesale competitor quality: Comp Bureau

telecom | 08/07/2019 11:00 am EDT

Despite being “impressed” by the competitive presence of...

CRTC says no to Competition Bureau request for information

telecom | 04/18/2019 5:22 pm EDT

The CRTC has told the Competition Bureau it won’t be compelling telecoms to turn over a slew of detailed information the bureau was asking for — though the telecoms will effectively have to...

Competition Bureau attempting to ‘hijack’ CRTC process, telecoms say

telecom | 04/02/2019 5:40 pm EDT

A request from the Competition Bureau asking the CRTC to require telecoms...

No clear suitor for Corus assets after report of sale: analysts

Media | 06/13/2018 1:51 pm EDT

Corus Entertainment Inc. CEO Doug Murphy is refusing to comment on a media...

Matthew Boswell to head Comp Bureau in 1 year interim term

telecom | 05/30/2018 2:26 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau has an interim replacement for outgoing commissioner John Pecman, the government announced Wednesday. Matthew Boswell will assume the position for a one-year term starting Thursday, Innovation Canada said in a press release. Boswell has been the...

Competition Bureau reviewing Postmedia, Torstar deal

Media | 11/28/2017 5:53 pm EST

The Competition Bureau has confirmed in an email they will review a recent deal between Torstar Corp. and Postmedia, which saw the exchange of 41 commuter, local or community newspapers between the two Canadian media organizations...

Competition Bureau consulting on big data

telecom | 09/18/2017 3:48 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau is inviting comments on a white paper on big data. “Recent global developments in technology have allowed firms to harness data in ways that drive innovation and quality improvements across a range of...

Competition Bureau shouldn’t compel market studies: C.D. Howe

telecom | 05/04/2017 8:34 pm EDT

Granting the Competition Bureau additional powers to compel businesses to provide information for market studies “could result in significant costs for Canadian businesses,” according to...

Competition Bureau fines Amazon $1M

Media | 01/11/2017 5:46 pm EST

Amazon.com Inc. must pay a $1-million fine over the pricing practices on its Canadian website following a Competition Bureau investigation. The bureau said in a press release Wednesday that Amazon compared its...

Competition Bureau drops Apple competition case

telecom | 01/06/2017 7:04 pm EST

The Competition Bureau said Friday it has discontinued an investigation into whether Apple Inc. engaged in anticompetitive practices related to sales of its iPhone. The bureau was looking at “contractual terms that reference rivals as well as other terms that impose obligations on wireless carriers relating to the sale and marketing of the iPhone in Canada,” according to a statement posted on its website. “As the Bureau has not found sufficient evidence to suggest Apple’s current practices have substantially lessened or prevented competition in any...

Competition Bureau sweep looks at online reviews

Media | 10/31/2016 8:09 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau has wrapped up a sweep of online reviews and endorsements, as part of an annual initiative it conducts with other consumer protection agencies around the world. It said in a monthly...

CRTC not twiddling thumbs as industry changes: Blais

Media | 10/20/2016 8:21 pm EDT

OTTAWA — On the same day that a new report was released arguing the CRTC’s role and authority should be reduced in response to technological change, CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais defended the relevance of the...

CRTC consulting on MTS licence transfer to Bell

telecom | 08/30/2016 8:10 pm EDT

The CRTC said Tuesday that it wants input on Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.’s application to transfer its broadcast distribution licences to BCE Inc. as part of the proposed acquisition of MTS by...

Competition Bureau appoints chief economist

Media | 08/22/2016 4:45 pm EDT

Paul Johnson has been named as the Competition Bureau’s leader of economic analysis, where he will play a key role in merger reviews, the competition commissioner said Monday. In a Monday press release,...

Competition Bureau warns fans about sports streaming fine print

Media | 08/08/2016 7:59 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau said in a press release Monday that customers signing up for sports streaming websites should make sure they understand what they’re getting when they subscribe...

Advocacy groups take aim at data caps in zero-rating review

Media | 06/29/2016 6:45 pm EDT

Questions around telecoms’ usage of data caps should be at the centre of the CRTC’s proceeding on differential pricing practices, advocacy groups said in interventions, calling for the...

Bell, MTS receive court approval for takeover

telecom | 06/29/2016 5:49 pm EDT

BCE Inc. and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. have cleared yet another hurdle in their quest to combine, as the deal has now received court approval from the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, according to...

Bell to pay $12M for premium text message charges

telecom | 05/27/2016 5:01 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau said Friday it has reached an agreement with BCE Inc. in which the company will rebate customers up to $11.8 million for premium text messaging charges. It will also donate $800,000 to...

Bell-MTS deal weakens Rogers’ ability to compete: academics

telecom | 05/26/2016 9:27 pm EDT

In a submission to the Competition Bureau arguing that allowing BCE Inc. to acquire Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. would weaken wireless competition in the province, Carleton University’s Dwayne Winseck and Ben Klass state the merger would also affect Rogers Communications Inc.’s competitive power. They said “it is likely that Rogers’ position as a viable competitive alternative and constraint on the market power of [Bell and Telus Corp.] would be significantly weakened following the merger.” That’s because Rogers relies on a...

Competition Bureau wants input on Bell-MTS deal

telecom | 05/10/2016 4:32 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau is asking for comment on BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion bid to buy Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., it said in a press release Tuesday. It made a form available on its website that both consumers and...

Bell’s MTS purchase to boost competition: MEI

telecom | 05/04/2016 6:22 pm EDT

The $3.9-billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. by BCE Inc. would increase competition in Manitoba’s wireless market, according to the authors of a new report from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI)....

Experts say approval of Bell’s MTS acquisition likely

telecom | 05/02/2016 2:12 pm EDT

BCE Inc. announced Monday morning that it will purchase Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. in a $3.9 billion transaction that, if approved, will see the number of players in Manitoba’s telecom...

Competition Bureau updates IP enforcement guidelines

Media | 04/01/2016 7:32 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau has updated its Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines, as part of what it said in a Thursday press release would be an annual review. It said the updated guidelines clarify “the Bureau’s...

Competition Bureau says Telus will pay $7.3M in premium texting case

telecom | 01/04/2016 3:04 pm EST

The Competition Bureau said Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Telus Corp. to end legal proceedings in relation to premium texting services that former and current customers have paid for. The Competition Bureau said in a press release that Telus would issue up to $7.3 million in refunds to customers after it found Telus made “false or misleading representations in advertisements for premium text messages in pop-up ads, apps and on social media,” and added that this was...

Competition Bureau seeks info on iPhone pricing from carriers

telecom | 06/15/2015 9:01 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau has filed applications in Federal Court seeking information from wireless carriers about how they set prices for Apple Inc.’s devices. The applications involve BCE Inc.,...

Glentel sales up more than 30%

telecom | 03/19/2015 4:25 pm EDT

Glentel Inc., a retailer of mobile products and services, said Thursday that its fourth-quarter revenue was up 32.8 per cent from a year earlier to $533.1 million, though its quarterly profit declined to $830,000 from $8.3...

Rogers settles with Competition Bureau on texting proceeding

Media | 03/16/2015 3:58 pm EDT

Rogers Communications Inc. and the Competition Bureau announced Monday that they had reached an agreement to end legal proceedings against the carrier in relation to so-called premium texting services...

Ont. municipality still interested in Eastlink buyout: report

telecom | 02/06/2015 7:31 pm EST

The Municipality of Kincardine in southwestern Ontario is interested revisiting the issue of selling publicly owned Bruce Telecom to Eastlink-owner Bragg Communications Inc., according to a news...

Glentel purchase could help Bell, Rogers avoid competition: analysts

telecom | 01/05/2015 9:53 pm EST

A deal announced Christmas Eve to split the ownership of wireless retailer Glentel Inc. between BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. will help the incumbent carriers stave off competition from a...

TVA purchase of Vision Globale cleared

Media | 01/05/2015 9:02 pm EST

Quebecor Inc.'s broadcasting unit TVA Group said last week that its purchase of TV production company Vision Globale has closed following approval from the federal Competition Bureau. TVA CEO Julie Tremblay said in a Dec. 30...

Apple ordered to provide records to Competition Bureau

telecom | 12/17/2014 5:20 pm EST

OTTAWA — Apple Inc.'s Canadian subsidiary has been ordered by the Federal Court to hand over records and other relevant information to help the Competition Bureau determine whether the...

Competition Bureau asks Apple to turn over records on iPhone contracts

telecom | 12/11/2014 10:45 pm EST

The Competition Bureau filed an application on Tuesday in federal court to compel Apple Inc. to turn over records related to an investigation into whether the company used anti-competitive language in...

TVA Group to purchase Vision Globale

Media | 11/13/2014 7:15 pm EST

Quebecor Inc.'s broadcasting operation TVA Group said Thursday it has reached an agreement to purchase film- and TV-production company Vision Globale for about $118 million. TVA said the transaction is subject to approval by the Competition Bureau. "The purpose of this asset acquisition is to invest in growth sectors that are a good fit with TVA Group's current activities, with the effect of diversifying our sources of revenues, which are currently largely dependent on our conventional television network's advertising," Quebecor CEO Pierre Dion said in a news release....

Budget bill gives CRTC sharper teeth

telecom | 11/10/2014 7:36 pm EST

New legislation proposed by the federal government will expand the powers of the CRTC, giving it the ability to fine offenders, share information with the Competition Bureau and exert control over companies that operate telecom...

Wireline wholesale hearing to put focus on ISP access

telecom | 10/29/2014 4:55 pm EDT

The CRTC faces another major policy hearing next month, and this one has the potential to affect independent Internet service providers that depend on major telecom companies to connect them to customers. In September, the...

Government to ban paper bills for telecoms

telecom | 10/24/2014 8:16 pm EDT

The budget implementation bill introduced by the federal government in the House of Commons Thursday would forbid telecommunications companies for charging customers for paper bills. The bill would “prohibit providers of...

Quebecor says newspaper sale not connected to wireless expansion

Media | 10/06/2014 7:59 pm EDT

Quebecor Inc. says there is no connection between the $316-million proposed sale of its English-language newspapers to Postmedia Network Canada Corp. and its intention of expanding its mobile services...

Bell Aliant makes concession on Ontera purchase

telecom | 10/01/2014 7:28 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau said Wednesday that Bell Aliant Inc. has responded to the bureau's concerns surrounding its purchase of an Ontario-government-owned telecommunications provider. The bureau said in a press release Bell Aliant has agreed to lease a "significant portion" of Ontera's fibre network in northern Ontario to Eastlink. The bureau said it was concerned the proposed acquisition of Ontera by Bell Aliant would "substantially lessen and/or prevent competition in the sale of wireline telecommunications services in up to 16 northern Ontario communities ... "...

Eastlink no longer buying Bruce Telecom

telecom | 08/15/2014 5:34 pm EDT

Bragg Communications Inc., which operates Eastlink, won’t be buying Bruce Telecom, the Competition Bureau said Friday. The bureau said in a press release that it reviewed the proposed acquisition and concluded that had...

Regulatory uncertainty could hurt innovation: experts

telecom | 06/16/2014 9:18 pm EDT

TORONTO — Ongoing interventions by Industry Canada, the Competition Bureau and the CRTC into Canada’s wireless industry are likely to harm future investments by telecom companies, Brookings Institute economist Robert...

Competition Bureau not appealing Chatr decision

telecom | 03/24/2014 6:37 pm EDT

The federal Competition Bureau said Monday it will not appeal a court decision that hit Rogers Communications Inc. with a much lighter penalty than it had sought in relation to Rogers’ claims that its Chatr wireless service...

High roaming rates ‘likely’ hurting competition, says bureau

telecom | 01/29/2014 8:15 pm EST

The Competition Bureau said high roaming rates charged to domestic wireless competitors are “likely” hurting the level of wireless competition in Canada. On Wednesday, the bureau said in...

Competition bureau cites telecommunications as area of concern

telecom | 12/05/2013 8:37 pm EST

The Competition Bureau said Thursday that Canadians have identified telecommunications as an area the office should target in advocating for increased competition. The bureau said in a news release...

Competition Bureau wants closer cooperation with CRTC

Media | 10/03/2013 9:05 pm EDT

Last month's deal for more cooperation between the Competition Bureau and the CRTC is “a first step, baby step,” Commissioner of Competition John Pecman said Thursday at a conference in Ottawa. “What really...

CRTC, Competition Bureau sign cooperation agreement

Media | 09/25/2013 8:30 pm EDT

The CRTC and the federal Competition Bureau reached a deal to encourage more cooperation between the two organizations, the CRTC said. In a release Wednesday, the commission said the deal will mean the two regulatory bodies share...

Pecman named commissioner of competition

Media | 06/13/2013 1:57 am EDT

John Pecman was named to a five-year term as new commissioner of the Competition Bureau, Industry Canada said Wednesday. Pecman has served as interim commissioner since former commissioner Melanie Aitken stepped down last year,...

Chatr hearings wrap up

telecom | 05/21/2013 9:31 pm EDT

The Ontario Superior Court wrapped up hearings in Toronto last week on the Competition Bureau's lawsuit against Rogers Communications Inc. for alleged "misleading advertising" related to its discount Chatr wireless brand. Final arguments finished last week for the Competition Bureau's court action against Rogers for a $10-million penalty for advertising that ran in the summer and fall of 2010, when Rogers’ brand Chatr advertised “fewer dropped calls than new wireless carriers.” Rogers says it ran industry-standard wireless tests before launching the ads and that they were supported by research. A decision is expected this year for the case, which is being heard by Ontario Superior Court Justice Frank Marrocco. The docket No. is CV-10-8993-00CL....

Competition Bureau supports regs for shorter wireless contracts, free device unlocking

telecom | 02/07/2013 10:48 pm EST

The CRTC should introduce rules to prevent wireless carriers from hindering customers who want to switch providers and require carriers to provide clearer service and pricing...

Rogers says judge can ‘light a match’ to Competition Bureau case

telecom | 08/09/2012 10:40 pm EDT

TORONTO—Rogers Communications Inc. conducted industry standard tests to support its “fewer dropped calls” advertisements in 2010 that proved the ads to be true and now provide a...

Competition Bureau investigating Bell Media carriage agreements: court documents

Media | 08/01/2012 5:03 pm EDT

The federal Competition Bureau is investigating whether BCE Inc. is using its stable of “high-demand television” channels to place “anti-competitive” restrictions on competing...