C-352Lowering Prices for Canadians Act
An Act to amend the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on September 18, 2023
- Status
- At report stage in the House of Commons since June 19, 2024
What it does
Raises competition penalties, changes merger review rules, and requires the Tribunal to block or unwind some mergers with large combined market shares.
What it does
- Allows market studies and reports on market conditions to be used when looking into factors that affect competition.
- Raises penalties for conspiracy offences to up to 14 years in prison, $25 million, or three times the benefit gained, or 10% of worldwide revenue if the benefit cannot be determined.
- Expands anti-competitive conduct to include directly or indirectly imposing excessive and unfair selling prices, and keeps the same penalties for certain conduct by federal financial institution directors, officers, or employees.
- Lets the Tribunal order divestiture or other steps to fix anti-competitive practices, and raises the penalty for later orders under that rule.
- Changes how efficiency gains are treated in agreement and merger reviews, and says income transfers by themselves do not count as efficiency gains.
- Requires the Tribunal to dissolve or block mergers that reach 60% combined market share, or 30% to 60% unless the parties show substantial procompetitive outcomes, extends the merger challenge deadline to three years, and removes the Tribunal’s power to award costs against the Crown.
Who it affects
- Businesses
- Companies planning mergers
- Federally regulated financial institutions
- Competition Bureau
- Competition Tribunal
Background
The bill amends the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Current stage. Now here
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.
LiberalKevin Lamoureux· November 6, 2023
“More specifically, in regard to the bill itself, when we think in terms of the big five grocery chains, Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart and Costco, our government called them from the minister's office here in Ottawa and had them make a presentation to the standing committee in a genuine attempt for more accountability. That was relatively unique.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRyan Williams· November 6, 2023
“I think we all know this; it has been repeated over and over today in the House. After eight years, Canadians pay the highest prices in the world for almost every good and service they can imagine.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocJean-Denis Garon· November 6, 2023
“Bill C-352 looks at supply chains, which is a good thing. We experienced this during the pandemic.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPJagmeet Singh· November 6, 2023
“I am glad to rise today to speak to my private member's bill, the lowering prices for Canadians act. There is too much corporate control in Ottawa.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At report stage in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.