C-339An Act to amend the Competition Act (efficiencies defence)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 8, 2023
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 8, 2023
What it does
Repeals the Competition Act’s efficiencies defence for mergers and proposed mergers.
What it does
- Repeals section 96 of the Competition Act, which is the efficiencies defence in merger cases.
- Removes the rule that can stop the Competition Tribunal from making a merger order when efficiency gains outweigh the merger’s anti-competitive effects.
- Updates subsection 92(1) so the Tribunal may act, subject to sections 94 and 95.
Who it affects
- Companies planning mergers
- Businesses in merger reviews
- Competition Tribunal
Topics
Background
Section 96 of the Competition Act is the “efficiencies defence.” It lets the Competition Tribunal avoid making an order in some merger cases if efficiency gains outweigh the harm to competition.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
ConservativeRyan Williams· June 8, 2023
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-339, An Act to amend the Competition Act (efficiencies defence). It is my pleasure to rise to present my first private member's bill.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill not proceeded with. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.