O’reilly, Stewart – Gamestop And The Future Of Shareholder Activism
From: Hugh O’Reilly and James Stewart To: Investment World Watchers Date: February 22, 2021 Re: GameStop and the Future of Shareholder Activism The social media-driven GameStop phenomenon has given rise to analyses and commentary in several streams: market functioning, particularly excessive volatility; the need to help retail investors avoid major financial losses with improved investor protection; and the combination […] Benjamin Dachis – Cities Can Speed Development With Early Zoning Pre-approvals
From: Benjamin Dachis To: Canadian Municipal and Provincial Governments Date: January 15, 2021 Re: Cities Can Speed Development with Early Zoning Pre-approvals High home values are partly a product of limited construction. A major limit to construction is a lengthy development approval system and costs on homebuyers. Changing this system has both a public interest […] La Numérisation Ou La Désuétude Pour Les Entreprises – La Presse Op-ed
ll est grand temps que nos entreprises accélèrent leur numérisation. Celles qui ne mordront pas la carotte des appuis offerts par les gouvernements et les institutions financières goûteront au bâton des concurrents qui redoublent d’ardeur.
La COVID-19 agit en accélérateur de changement, que l’on pense seulement au télétravail et aux achats en ligne qui ont grimpé en flèche. Or, ce ne sont que deux manifestations parmi plusieurs de la numérisation de l’économie, un concept large qui englobe aussi la bande passante à haut débit qui livre les séries de Netflix ou l’accès internet aux services bancaires, par fibre optique ou par les ondes de nos téléphones.
Dans les entreprises innovatrices, l’information numérisée lubrifie…
Competition Law Has Teeth to Oversee Digital Marketplace: C.D. Howe Institute Competition Policy Council
January 7, 2021 – Competition law enforcement should be the first defense for addressing anti-competitive behaviour in the digital marketplace, according to a report from a C.D. Howe Institute council.
Canada’s statutory framework for competition law enforcement continues to provide a robust and flexible toolkit to address anti-competitive behaviour. As such, in response to a growing movement both internationally and domestically for the regulation of “big data,” competition law should provide the framework for addressing concerns about the market conduct of digital platforms, and direct regulation should be the last resort.
This is the majority view of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Competition Policy Council, which held its…
Von Finckenstein, Mitchell – There Is A Better Way To Amend Framework Laws
From: Konrad von Finckenstein and James Mitchell To: Navdeep Bains, Minister of of Innovation, Science and Industry Date: December 11, 2020 Re: There is a Better Way to Amend Framework Laws The government recently introduced Bill C-11, An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act. This Bill replaces […] John Pecman – Let The Market Manage Food Delivery Pricing
From: John Pecman To: Canadians Concerned about Competition Date: November 25, 2020 Re: Let the Market Manage Food Delivery Pricing As restrictions continue on in-person dining, COVID-19 has made restaurants increasingly dependent on food delivery platforms. Last month, the City of Toronto asked Ontario to temporarily cap the service fees restaurants are charged, which can be as high as […] Competition can best contain food delivery fees, not unnecessary regulation – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
As restrictions continue on in-person dining, COVID-19 has made restaurants increasingly dependent on food delivery platforms. Last month, the City of Toronto asked Ontario to temporarily cap the service fees restaurants are charged, which can be as high as 30 per cent of the bill.
There is superficial appeal to price caps, but taking economic guidance from Hippocrates – first, do no harm – they amount to quackery. Regulatory interventions need to be carefully dosed according to a precise diagnosis of market failure and the extent of the disease.
Instead of introducing new price cap regulations, Premier Doug Ford urged food delivery apps to slash commissions as a way to help out pandemic-stricken restaurants. This moral…
Climbing Out of COVID
New C.D. Howe Institute Book Chronicles COVID-19 Policy Insights A new book from the C.D. Howe Institute provides an overview of the Institute’s critical policy recommendations made in response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic. “Climbing Out of COVID” compiles communiqués from the Institute’s Crisis Working Groups, as well as Intelligence Memos and op-eds, published up […] Paul-erik Veel – Implications Of An Empirical Analysis Of Competition Tribunal Cases
From: Paul-Erik Veel To: Canadians Concerned About Competition Date: September 23, 2020 Re: Implications of an Empirical Analysis of Competition Tribunal Cases The Competition Tribunal is the most important body for adjudicating disputes under the Competition Act. It has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes relating to the unilateral conduct, merger, and civil competitor agreement provisions of the act. It […] We should stop regulating wholesale internet rates – Financial Post Op-Ed
In Canada, if regulation doesn’t work, the answer always seems to be more regulation. And so it is now with wholesale internet rates.
In August, the Cabinet (mildly) criticized the CRTC’s new wholesale internet rates, noting that because they are so low, they may “undermine investment in high-quality networks.” This sentiment is justified, but the Cabinet needs to go much further. This is an opportunity for Canada to finally accept that our government-directed internet “market” is not working — and to create a system of real, authentic competition.
First, why is the CRTC setting internet rates anyway? Canada has a form of wholesale internet regulation that is unique in the world. In Canada, as in most countries,…
Robert Mysicka – Protecting Consumers Against Costs Of Increased Professional Regulation
From: Robert Mysicka To: Canada’s Premiers Date: August 20, 2020 Re: Protecting Consumers Against Costs of Increased Professional Regulation Amid the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to overlook the hidden costs to consumers from the increase in the regulation of occupations. The economic rationales for increasing occupational regulation, in many cases, can […] John Pecman – Can Antitrust Laws Assist With The Economic Recovery?
From: John Pecman To: Canadians Concerned about Competition Date: July 24, 2020 Re: Can Antitrust Laws Assist with the Economic Recovery? Antitrust enforcers have said they need to remain vigilant to protect consumers and assist with the recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. Does the strict enforcement of competition laws stimulate a quick economic recovery, or would […]