Canada’s Competition Bureau is suing Google, alleging anti-competitive behavior in online advertising. The lawsuit seeks to force Google to divest two ad tech tools and pay a penalty. This follows similar antitrust actions in the U.S., highlighting growing global concerns about Google’s dominance in the digital advertising market.
Professor Tim Wu, a renowned antitrust expert, urges Canada to take a bolder approach to blocking harmful corporate mergers. Emphasizing the importance of economic democracy, Wu highlights the need to move beyond consent decrees and towards outright merger blocks. Canada’s history of failing to block mergers has contributed to inflation and reduced consumer welfare, while the United States has made significant strides in strengthening its competition policies. Wu recommends adopting a structural presumption system and enhancing the Competition Bureau’s powers to remedy anti-competitive mergers. These changes would align Canada’s Competition Act with U.S. legislation and promote cross-border cooperation in merger reviews.
