Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
[Event Oct 8]: Rotman Debate on Canada’s Oligopolies
Competition | Aug 28, 2025
Rotman is Hosting A Debate to Test If Corporate Oligopolies Are Limiting Canada's Growth
On October 8, 2025, the Rotman School of Management will host an in person debate on one of the most contested questions in Canada’s economy: Are Canada’s so called oligopolies standing in the way of a dynamic Canadian economy?
This debate is at the heart of whether concentrated industries in banking, telecom, airlines, and grocery are reducing competition and consumer choice or whether a few large firms are needed to sustain investment in a relatively small market.
Event Overview
Host: Rotman School of Management
Rotman Debate: Are Canada's So-Called "Oligopolies" Holding Us Back?
Date: October 8, 2025
Time/venue: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Desautels Hall
Agenda: Live in-person debate followed by a networking reception
Speakers and Perspectives
Arguing For
Anthony Durocher, Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Bureau, and Robin Shaban, economist and founder of the Canadian Anti Monopoly Project. They bring a competition policy and inclusive growth lens, pressing the case that concentration stifles productivity and affordability.
See: Stronger Teeth Needed to Protect Canada’s IP
They will likely emphasize how concentrated markets in banking, telecom, grocery, and airlines restrict consumer choice, keep prices high, and hurt innovation. Both have deep expertise in competition policy, which will resonate with Canadians worried about affordability, productivity, rising costs, and declining foreign direct investment.
Arguing Against
Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Conservative Party and now President of ADIT North America, and Dany Assaf, co chair of Torys LLP’s competition and foreign investment practice. Their case focuses on the role of scale in driving resilience, capital inflows, and global competitiveness.
Expect them to argue that scale is necessary in Canada’s small market to attract global investment, maintain resilience, and provide stability. O’Toole brings political credibility and public speaking skills, while Assaf brings legal and transactional expertise from landmark competition cases.
Moderator
The debate will be moderated by Anne Gaviola, senior broadcast journalist at Global News, who has more than 15 years covering Canada’s business and financial sectors.
Why It Matters for Fintech
For the NCFA Canada, this debate could not be more timely. The structure and size of Canada’s markets and levels of competition directly affects opportunities for new entrants in fintech and alternative finance. Concentrated industries can create barriers to entry. With productivity and affordability now central to Canada’s policy agenda, the insights from this debate will be directly relevant for startups, investors, and regulators. This is a ticketed event. Register now to secure your spot.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Leave a Reply