Canadian Women in Competition Law Social Event with Guest Speaker

Location: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
199 Bay Street
Suite 4000, Commerce Court West
Toronto, Ontario, M5L 1A9

8:15 am – 8:55 am

Registration and Breakfast

8:55 am – 9:05 am

Welcome and Introduction

Speakers:
Peter Flynn, Stikeman Elliott LLP (Toronto, ON)
Neil Campbell, McMillan LLP (Toronto, ON)

9:05 am – 10:30 am

Session 1: What Can I Say Again? Deceptive Marketing Case Studies

A walk through of various examples of potentially misleading statements, drip pricing (Cineplex decision), greenwashing (assessment of internationally recognized methodologies, including unpacking the Bureau's updated guidance materials), and urgency cues (Leon's and The Brick investigation).

Speakers:
Kelly Harris, Harris + co. (Toronto, ON)
Denisa Mertiri, Ontario Power Generation (Toronto, ON)
Linda Visser, Siskinds LLP (London, ON)
Irma Shaboian, Stikeman Elliott LLP (Toronto, ON)

Moderator: Shelley Samel, Ad Standards (Toronto, ON)

10:30 am – 10:50 am

Break

10:50 am – 12:20 pm

Session 2: The Academy and The Arena

Three 30-minute debates focusing on the practical implications of the recent amendments and the Bureau's enforcement trends. Munk Debate-style resolutions will be voted on by the audience pre- and post-debate.

Speakers:
Vass Bednar, McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
Pierre Larouche, Université de Montréal (Montréal, QC)
Danielle Royal, Stikeman Elliott LLP (Toronto, ON)
Joshua Zelikovitz, Goodmans LLP (Toronto, ON)

Moderator: Joe McGrade, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Toronto, ON)

12:20 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch
Sponsor

1:00 pm – 1:10 pm

Bill Miller Award Presentation

Presented by: Markus von Wartburg, Analysis Group (Montréal, QC)

1:10 pm – 1:40 pm

Keynote Address

Speaker: Justice Andrew D. Little, Chair, Competition Tribunal (Ottawa, ON)

Moderator: Peter Flynn, Stikeman Elliott LLP (Toronto, ON)

1:40 pm – 1:50 pm

Break

1:50 pm – 3:10 pm

Session 3: How much “Securing” and “Benefiting” is Too Much? A Discussion of the Canadian Government’s Evolving Approach to FDI

A deep dive unpacking the government's recent enforcement activity and the ICA amendments - covering critical minerals and mining (Teck, Zijin), resources (Cleveland-Cliffs), and broadening national security reviews (Tik Tok; C-34 draft regulations) - contrasting these actions with Canada's need to encourage foreign investment and the broader international trend regarding FDI.

Speakers:
Pierre Alvarez, Global Public Affairs (Calgary, AB)
Lucille Hague, Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Washington, DC)
Simon Kennedy, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Ottawa, ON)
Ian Macdonald, Gowling WLG (Toronto, ON)

Moderator: Fraser Malcolm, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Toronto, ON)

3:10 pm – 3:20 pm

Break

3:20 pm – 4:50 pm

Closing Plenary: If I Were Commissioner

With shifting global priorities for antitrust enforcement and less than a year remaining in Commissioner Boswell's extended term, speakers make their pitch regarding their views on the priorities for the next Commissioner. This panel will hear three 5-6-minute pitches per topic, with audience voting at the end of each topic to determine which pitch resonated the most with the audience. Topics include:

• Armed with new tools and presumptions, we have not yet seen a significant increase in merger litigation since the amendments were passed, even though there has been an apparent increase in extended reviews - does the lack of merger cases indicate that there remain deficiencies in the new tool kit that are preventing the Bureau from bringing cases? What specific improvements should the next Commissioner focus on implementing for merger review in Canada?
• Given the expanded right of private access for abuse claims, how should the Commissioner direct the Bureau's enforcement focus and resources? Should the Commissioner focus on potential abuse cases where it is not clear that any private party would be incented to bring a claim?
• What is the proper role of competition enforcement in Canada's broader industrial and trade policy - should the Commissioner continue to expand the traditional ambit of competition enforcement to reflect broader government priorities?
• Given the ongoing shift in international enforcement priorities (EC, CMA, US) to encourage growth and a return to classical theories of harm, should Canada continue to row against the current or does international alignment remain a desirable objective?
   

Speakers:
Deborah Salzberger, McCarthy Tétrault LLP (Toronto, ON)
Margaret Sanderson, Charles River Associates (Toronto, ON)
John S. Tyhurst, Barrister & Solicitor; Adjunct Professor, University of Ottawa (Ottawa, ON)

Moderator: William S. Wu, McMillan LLP (Toronto, ON)

4:50 pm – 5:00 pm

Closing Remarks

Speakers:
Peter Flynn, Stikeman Elliott LLP (Toronto, ON)
Neil Campbell, McMillan LLP (Toronto, ON)

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Closing Reception
P.J. O'Brien Irish Pub & Restaurant
Sponsor