Strengthening Accountability for Pro-Competitive Reform: Opening statement to the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

Remarks by Matthew Chiasson, Senior Policy Advisor, Competition Promotion BranchMeeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

Remarks by Matthew Chiasson, Senior Policy Advisor, Competition Promotion Branch

Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy

Mr. Chair and Honourable Senators, thank you for having us here today.

My name is Matthew Chiasson. I am a Senior Policy Advisor in the Competition Promotion Branch at the Competition Bureau. I am joined by my colleague, Associate Deputy Commissioner Bradley Callaghan.

The Bureau administers and enforces the Competition Act. We also advocate for policies and regulations that support competition across the economy.

Our main message today is that we support Bill S-239.

The bill would require federal institutions to publicly respond to recommendations arising from the Competition Bureau's market studies, and encourage provincial institutions to do the same.

We believe this would strengthen accountability for pro-competitive reform by creating a more transparent process for considering Bureau recommendations. In our written submission, we also suggest a modest amendment to clarify the bill’s application.

Before getting into the specifics, I would like to briefly situate this bill in the broader context. There is growing recognition that competition is key to building a more affordable, productive and resilient Canadian economy.

Recent reforms have substantially strengthened the Competition Act. And governments are now looking beyond competition law to the broader rules and policies that affect the competitiveness of our economy.

Across Canada, this is translating into efforts to reduce barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, modernize regulation, and make it easier for businesses to enter and expand.