Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Canada’s Competition Plan Is Getting More Serious
Competition | May 15, 2025
Image: Competition Bureau 2025 2026 Annual Plan
Canada's Competition Watchdog is Upping Its Response to Rising Costs, Weak Productivity, and Digital Market Dominance
On May 15, 2025 the Competition Bureau released its 2025 to 2026 plan and they intend to move earlier, faster, and deeper into markets that matter to Canadians, such as grocery pricing, housing, banking, telcom, artificial intelligence, and environmental claims. Instead of reacting after harm is done, the Bureau plans to use the new, more modernized, legal tools at its disposal to focus on affordability, digital power, and slow innovation.
Cracking Down on Hidden Fees and Market Power
With expanded powers from recent updates to the Competition Act, investigators can act more quickly and use more data to build stronger cases to tackle problems like drip pricing and greenwashing. They can target areas where high market concentration makes life less affordable, working to prevent harmful behaviour before it becomes a crisis.
Pushing Government to Rethink the Rules
The Bureau is already pushing governments across the country to remove rules that hold back competition. They encourage use of its Competition Assessment Toolkit, which is designed to help policymakers identify and fix outdated regulations.
See: Will Competition Reforms Boost Fintech? Inside the Fight
The Bureau will also launch a new market study this year and expand its work on emerging issues like algorithmic pricing and data portability. They will also make compliance easier for small businesses with tools like the Compliance Hub and Compliance Bootcamp. Promoting competition is now mandatory, and part of how the Canadian government can help grow the economy and protect consumers.
Modernizing the Bureau
To support all of the changes, the Bureau is hiring staff with digital skills, updating its systems to manage large volumes of data securely, and training teams to use AI and new enforcement tools. There is also a revitalized focus on diversity, mental health, bilingualism, and accessible leadership training. The Bureau plans to work more closely with domestic and international partners, and play a key role during Canada’s G7 presidency.
Competition Matters
This year’s plan shows that Canada is taking competition more seriously. It's not just about enforcement anymore; it's about using smarter tools, faster action, and better policy to lower costs and open up markets.
See: UK Banking Competition Remedies, Lessons for Fintech Growth
For fintechs and startups, this creates a chance to grow in a market environment that rewards fair play and transparency. And to incumbent players relying on hidden fees or dominant behaviour, the pressure is rising to adapt.
Learn more: download the 7 page PDF '2025-2026 Annual Plan: Strengthening Competition in a Changing Economy'
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