In this episode of the Counterfactual podcast, we are joined by Denise Hearn, author, applied researcher, advisor, and resident senior fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, and Vass Bednar, the Executive Director, Master of Public Policy Program at McMaster University and host of the Globe and Mail podcast Lately to discuss corpo…

In this episode of the Counterfactual podcast, we hear from Matt Chaisson, a Senior Policy Advisor, about his career and responsibilities at the Competition Bureau, particularly relating to the process and experiences around the adoption of recent amendments to the Competition Act. This is the second episode of the new “Better Know the Bureau” seri…

Join us for a spirited discussion with three participants in the Competition Bureau’s 5th Annual Competition Summit entitled “Market Dynamics in the AI Era”. We review the highlights of the AI Summit from the perspectives of a senator, journalist and competition law practitioner. What are the Competition Bureau, domestic regulatory agencies and for…

One of the many consequential recent amendments to the Competition Act, the so-called “structural presumption” for the identification of anticompetitive mergers has been the subject of robust debate. Join us for this episode as we speak with U.S. practitioner and former FTC attorney Jamie France for a rundown of the approach taken to the structural…

In this episode of the Counterfactual podcast, we hear from Anu Lalith-Kumar, a Competition Law Officer in the Mergers Directorate and a part of the Mergers Intelligence and Notification Unit (MINU) about her background and role within the Competition Bureau. This is the first episode of the new “Better Know the Bureau” series where we “demystify” …

On June 20, 2024, the Competition Act was amended to require businesses to have testing or substantiation to support certain environmental claims. The Competition Bureau is currently engaged in a public consultation process to assist it in providing guidance on the interpretation of the new provisions. Soon, the Competition Tribunal will be able to…

In the fourteenth episode of the Counterfactual podcast, we host a follow-on conversation from the recent CBA Competition Law Spring Conference, Old Port – New Tech: Exploring the Future. The conference co-chairs provide the key highlights from the panel discussions (Private Access – A New Frontier in Canadian; A fireside chat with Canada’s AI lead…

In March 2024, the Canadian government issued new guidelines concerning foreign investment review of investments into Canadian interactive digital media companies. In this episode, we dig into the reasons for the government’s concerns with Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat, the author of the recent report “Gaming the System, How Extremists Exploit Gaming …

In this episode of the Counterfactual podcast, we host a follow-on conversation from the recent CBA Mergers Committee Brownbag session on sector-specific merger reviews (for the transportation, financial services, and telecom industries) that take place in parallel to the Competition Act merger review process. The panelists (from government, privat…

What makes the Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot so special? Host Charles Tingley speaks with moot organizers Katherine Rydel and Majid Charania to learn more about Canada’s premier competition law event for aspiring jurists. Find out what makes the Fanaki Moot tick and why law students, judges, enforcement officials and private practitioners are…

Join us for an exciting dive into the world of regulatory eDiscovery. In this episode of the Counterfactual podcast, we unpack key questions, including where to look for documents, how best to collect them, and how to choose the right technology for your review. Nyah King and Eric Robinson of KLDiscovery, two experts in the field, share their insig…

This episode focuses on current hot topics relating to Canada’s grocery sector and intersections with competition law, with a focus on rising food prices. Dr. Charlebois provides insights into food price forecasting and its challenges, food inflation trends, the affordability of groceries and whether Canada’s large grocery chains have engaged in pr…

Join us for a special double-episode to kick-off the second season of the Counterfactual Podcast! We go behind the scenes with Canadian Competition Tribunal Chair, Justice Andrew D. Little, and his recent law clerk, Umang Khandelwal. The discussion covers the waterfront from Competition Tribunal practice and priorities to the future of competition …

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Canada’s federal government proposed significant amendments to the Investment Canada Act’s national security review powers, including mandatory pre-closing notification for some control and non-control level acquisitions, implemented a new critical minerals policy, ordered three Chinese companies to divest critical mi…

In our sixth episode of the podcast, Julien Beaulieu, Lecturer in Law at the University of Sherbrooke, drops in to discuss environmental claims, greenwashing, green hushing, net zero pledges, and much more. Julien shares his insights into the legal regimes that apply to greenwashing, regulatory and compliance challenges regarding environmental clai…

In our fifth episode of the podcast, Majid Charania, Director of Compliance with the Competition Bureau of Canada, drops in to discuss the Bureau's revamped compliance program guidance with Counterfactual host, Julia Potter. Majid shares useful insights on the impetus for the updated guidance, the key changes from the 2015 edition, the value of com…

In our fourth episode of the podcast, Professor Joshua Gans of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management drops in to discuss the economics of artificial intelligence with Counterfactual host Charles Tingley. Professor Gans shares his expert insights to clarify the nature, power and limitations of AI when it comes to business applicati…

In our third episode, we sit down with the former national security and intelligence advisor to the Prime Minister, Vincent Rigby, and Associate Professor and security expert at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Thomas Juneau, to discuss their recent report on the threats to Canada and Canadians’ securi…

In our second episode, two-time Competition Bureau Chief Economist, Dr. Lilla Csorgo, speaks with Counterfactual host Charles Tingley about her experiences and reflections in practice and within different enforcement agencies as a globetrotting economist…and also her creative side and recommendations for a top Kiwi travel experience.…

In our inaugural episode, Counterfactual host Charles Tingley invites former Competition Commissioners, Lawson Hunter and George Addy, to discuss the current competition policy landscape in Canada and potential amendments to Canada’s Competition Act…as well as their favourite places to visit and their ‘alternate universe’ career ambitions.…

Digital Media Committee Chair, Charles Tingley, announces the launch of the Counterfactual Podcast and provides a sneak peak at what listeners can expect to hear in future episodes of the podcast. Brought to you by the CBA Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section.Charles Tingley