Human Resources Legislative Update
Employers Take Note: Incoming Changes to Competition Act
Date: October 25, 2022
Employers should take note of recent amendments made to the Competition Act (Act) by Bill C-19, Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1 which will come into force on June 23, 2023.
The amendments make it a criminal offence for an employer to conspire, agree or arrange with an unaffiliated employer to fix, maintain, decrease or control wages or terms of employment (“wage-fixing agreements”) or to refrain from hiring or trying to hire one another’s employees (“no-poach agreements”) (see the Guide to the 2022 amendments to the Competition Act, published by the federal government). This is a new provision within the existing criminal conspiracy provisions of the Act.
The penalty for violating this provision is imprisonment for up to fourteen years or a fine to be set at the discretion of the court, or both.
If you have any questions about these amendments, please contact your regular Hicks Morley lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
