Competition Bureau's Anti-Cartel Day: Helping Businesses Detect and Prevent Price-Fixing and Bid-Rigging

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 26, 2015) - The Competition Bureau is helping to educate businesses on how to identify cartel activities with new informative videos and web pages to mark its second annual Anti-cartel Day.

Cartels arise when groups of otherwise independent businesses agree to fix prices, allocate customers or markets, restrict production or rig bids. Cartels deprive consumers of the benefits of competition, such as competitive prices, increased product choice and greater innovation.

The Bureau has developed resources to assist businesses and trade associations in recognizing and preventing cartel activity. The videos were made available on the Bureau's Facebook page, YouTube channel and its website earlier this week, and include:

the Commissioner's message on Anti-cartel Day;

Cartels: What you don't know can hurt you!; and

Bid-rigging: Compete legally!

Entitled Competition in the Construction Industry, the new web pages focus on this sector because it is particularly susceptible to cartel activity. The goal is to encourage companies to do things the right way, the legal way. Healthy competition in a competitive marketplace is good for business, good for consumers and good for the economy.

The Bureau encourages its stakeholders, the business community, its Fraud Prevention Forum partners, and the Canadian public to view and share these resources.

Quick Facts

• The consequences of not complying with the law can be devastating, including significant fines, imprisonment, lawsuits, bad publicity, and a prohibition from participating in government bidding processes.
• The Bureau's Immunity and Leniency Programs are among its best weapons to fight criminal cartels under the Competition Act. They have proven to be effective in uncovering and breaking cartel activities, drawing many cases to the Bureau's attention.
• The Bureau's whistleblowing initiative encourages the general public and business community to report suspected incidences of cartel activity to the Bureau.
• Vigorously pursuing those who participate in cartel activity is a top enforcement priority for the Bureau.

Quotes

"Cartels are corrosive to a healthy marketplace. Anti-cartel Day is a way for us to raise awareness as to the devastating effects of anti-competitive conduct but also to highlight the benefits of compliance for companies and the individuals managing them."

John Pecman,
Commissioner of Competition

Associated Links

Immunity Program

Leniency Program

Whistleblowing Initiative

Corporate Compliance Programs Bulletin

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The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.