Just like a quick-thinking Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a desperate Justin Trudeau threw cold water on the Competition Act’s controversial “efficiencies” defence last week in an attempt to help bring down the soaring cost of groceries. “I’m melting,” exclaimed a dissolving Section 96 as Munchkins across the land rejoiced that they would soon enjoy lower prices for cheese.
Wow, that’s great news. I hope we get an actual reprieve soon, but it seems the Competition Act was already weak to start with. At least in other places, they have a chance of trying to restore enforcement to match the spirit and letter of the law instead of allowing it to be corrupted, whereas here we still need to write actual consumer welfare into the law in the first place?