Do we need new competition laws for Big Tech? – Financial Post Op-Ed
The rocket-like rise of the tech titans has triggered a competition policy response from many of Canada’s largest trading partners, largely owing to populist angst over alleged market power and privacy concerns. In Europe and the United States, myriad proposals driven by a “big is bad” mantra seek new laws and regulations to tame the more successful digital platform companies. Traditional laissez-faire policies that have enabled unprecedented economic growth face the prospect of a deep chill should these proponents succeed in creating greater marketplace equality for businesses at the expense of consumer welfare. Competition rules that would punish successful enterprises to pursue nebulous notions of “fairness” put at risk incentives…
A Passport to Success: How Credit Unions Can Adapt to the Urgent Challenges They Face
Credit Unions Must Go Big on Digital, Scale up to Thrive Credit unions face urgent challenges in the digital revolution, including the need for large new investments in technology and room to expand, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. With the digital revolution underway, most credit unions outside of Quebec are […] There’s a more practical way to regulate Big Tech – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
As the refreshed Trudeau minority government pushes forward with what we presume will be revised versions of Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault’s controversial bills C-10 and C-36, we suggest it pause, breathe and consider a more poised approach.
The problems with online harms legislation (C-36) are being revealed through the responses of numerous civil and human-rights organizations. The issues connected to C-10 are more firmly embedded within the public memory because of the controversy that ensued last spring when Mr. Guilbeault sought to grant the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) authority over the internet, including personal social-media posts. Its stated intent, while lacking in…
Balyk, Dachis, DeLand – Alberta’s Outdated Oil Sands Royalty Regime Needs a Fix
From: Joel Balyk, Benjamin Dachis and Charles DeLand To: Alberta oil royalty regulators Date: October 18, 2021 Re: Alberta’s Outdated Oil Sands Royalty Regime Needs a Fix Canada’s oil sands accounted for 63 percent of oil production in Canada in 2019, and their royalties have been the source of 7.7 percent of Alberta’s revenues since 2008. The province […] Blomqvist, Grootendorst – Price Regulation Not the Best Answer for Pharmaceuticals
From: Åke Blomqvist and Paul Grootendorst To: Canadians Concerned about Drug Prices Date: October 12, 2021 Re: Price Regulation Not the Best Answer for Pharmaceuticals Big changes are afoot in the way patent drugs are priced in Canada. At present, Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), a federal agency, is responsible for setting maximum prices for patented drugs […] Daniel Schwanen – Reform of the Competition Act
From: Daniel Schwanen To: The Incoming Canadian Parliament Date: October 8, 2021 Re: Reform of the Competition Act Parliament will be considering, in due course, reforms to Canada’s Competition Act to modernize it for the digital age. This is welcome, as long as it does not create greater barriers to investment and innovation in digital […] An Oil Sands Inequity: Alberta’s Outdated Bitumen Valuation Program
Alberta Should Scrap its Outdated Bitumen Valuation Methodology Given the substantial contribution of Alberta’s oil sands to both the province and Canada’s economy, a stable, competitive and fair oil sands regime is essential, according to a new report released by the C.D. Howe Institute. Authors Joel Balyk, Benjamin Dachis and Charles DeLand examine the Bitumen […] Canada Should Negotiate A Fairer Share Of Drug R&d Costs – Financial Post Op-ed
Big changes are afoot in the way patent drugs are priced in Canada. At present, Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), a federal agency, is responsible for setting maximum prices for patented drugs (i.e., pharmaceuticals, biologics and vaccines). The agency has been criticized for failing to rein in prices, which are higher than in some peer countries. This criticism is unfair: the tools the PMPRB was given to regulate drug prices when it was established in 1987 have become less effective over time.
To address this problem, the federal government has authorized the PMPRB to introduce new pricing regulations, now scheduled to come into force in January. We think this is the wrong strategy. Instead of relying on…
Matt Malone – Non-competes Are Holding Canada Back – So Let’s Ban Them
From: Matt Malone To: Canadians Concerned about employment law Date: September 22, 2021 Re: Non-competes are holding Canada back – so let’s ban them Canadian political leaders often talk about unleashing innovation. California did it with just 24 words. “Every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is […] Aurelien Portuese – Principles of Dynamic Antitrust
From: Aurelien Portuese To: Canadians Concerned About Competition Date: September 17, 2021 Re: Principles of Dynamic Antitrust Innovation remains antitrust’s paradox. Everyone agrees that competition policies should not stifle innovation with excessive interventionism and should foster innovation with optimal incentives. And yet, innovation remains insufficiently anchored in antitrust enforcement. Antitrust enforcement has improved over the […] Distilled Wisdom: Top Legal and Economic Experts on the Most Needed Competition Reforms
September 9, 2021 – After ten years and over twenty meetings, the C.D. Howe Institute’s Competition Policy Council has summarized the key measures that the next Canadian government should focus on for legislative reform of the Competition Act.
Competition law and policy has recently been elevated to the main stage of the Canadian policy debate. For example, Budget 2021 marked the first major move of the federal government to respond to the added interest in competition law and policy, with an increase in the Competition Bureau’s budget. This attention, including discussion of Competition Act matters at hearings of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology in April 2021, brings opportunity for…
Campbell, Omran – Benchmarking Canada’s Price Of Protection
To: Canadian insurance watchers From: Alister Campbell and Farah Omran Date: September 9, 2021 Re: Benchmarking Canada’s Price of Protection Over a recent four-year period, Canadians paid $50 billion per year in premiums to insurers for property and casualty insurance, which includes liability, property and auto. Our recent C.D. Howe Institute Commentary sought to answer several core questions about […]