Competition law in Canada is in the midst of a once-in-a-generation reset that carries significant implications for businesses. Parliament has overhauled the Competition Act (Act) to address digital-economy dynamics and affordability concerns, ushering in a more interventionist regulatory environment.
Gone is the efficiencies defence in merger reviews, and the evidentiary burden has shifted to merging parties with a new market-share-based rebuttable structural presumption deeming a merger to be anti-competitive. Pre-merger notification requirements have been expanded, and the Competition Bureau’s (Bureau) look-back period for challenging non-notified mergers has been extended. Sweeping amendments to the Act have also broadened enforcement tools across abuse of dominance, criminal conduct and deceptive marketing, including by expanding the Act’s private access regime.
The most recent amendments only came into force in 2025 amid significant geopolitical and economic shifts. As the Bureau, businesses and policymakers begin to test how these amendments will work in practice, 2026 may be the year that the realities of the new operating environment take shape.
Canadian Competition Law Outlook 2026: From Reform to Reality examines the emerging contours of this new regime and identifies practical considerations for businesses, including:
- The importance of early, proactive strategic assessment for transactions and day-to-day conduct
- The rise of private enforcement and its implications for litigation risk
- The need to update compliance policies and training in light of substantive and procedural change
This guide provides timely insight into how Canada’s evolving competition law framework may affect your organization — and how to navigate risk while remaining competitive.
Download the guide to explore the key trends shaping Canadian competition law in 2026.
Download Now
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your usual Blakes contact or any member of the Blakes Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment group.
More insights
Blakes and Blakes Business Class communications are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or an opinion on any issue. We would be pleased to provide additional details or advice about specific situations if desired.
For permission to republish this content, please contact the Blakes Client Relations & Marketing Department at [email protected].
© 2026 Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
