Consent and the business activities exemption: A dive into the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA)
Now in its Second Reading, Bill C-11, the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (“CPPA”), is moving ever closer to adoption. The opening remarks by the Bill’s sponsor, MP Navdeep Bains, emphasized the law’s focus on control and consent with the aim...
Ad Standards releases 2019 ad complaints and disputes report
Ad Standards Canada (“Ad Standards”) recently published its report regarding ad complaints and disputes that it received in 2019. This article provides an overview and highlights the trends from 2019. Competitor complaints addressed misleading superiority and ranking claims. On the...
The Bureau targets privacy: Facebook Inc. to pay the Competition Bureau a $9M administrative monetary penalty for misleading representations
On May 19, 2020, the Competition Bureau (“Bureau”) registered a consent agreement with Facebook Inc. (“Facebook”) after investigating Facebook’s privacy claims in respect of its platform and Messenger service. The Bureau found that Facebook’s claims regarding a user’s ability to...
Hidden digital costs, unsubstantiated weight loss claims, and drip pricing the focus of the Competition Bureau’s newest Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest
The Competition Bureau of Canada (the “Bureau”) recently released the fifth volume of its Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest. In this latest edition, the Bureau has again focused on issues affecting consumers in the online marketplace, including deceptive privacy practices, unsubstantiated...
Drip pricing: StubHub enters into $1.3M consent agreement with Competition Bureau
On February 7, 2020, StubHub Canada Ltd. and StubHub Inc. (collectively “StubHub”) entered into a consent agreement with the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) after the Bureau’s investigation concluded that StubHub was advertising unattainable ticket prices on its websites, emails and...
Privacy Commissioner consultation on AI
Continuing to highlight the need for reform, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (“OPC”) has initiated a consultation on recommendations they have presented to adapt the private sector privacy statute Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”)...
Do you have your French slogan? Compliant signage required in Quebec by November 24, 2019
The grace period for retailers with storefronts in the province of Quebec is coming to a close. By November 24, 2019, a generic or descriptive French term(s) or slogan must accompany all public signs displaying a non-French trademark. These requirements...
Edibles, Extracts and Topicals, Oh my!
As of October 17, 2019, the Cannabis Act governs the sale and production of three new classes of cannabis: Edible cannabis: food/beverage-like cannabis products. Cannabis extracts: cannabis products produced by extraction methods. Cannabis topicals: cannabis products applied to the body’s...
Food Labels Best Before 2022
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”) modernizes the food label once again to align with consumer demands and international standards. On June 22, 2019, the CFIA pre-published proposed changes to the Food and Drug Regulations (“FDR”) and the Safe Food...
BC Liquor and Cannabis Branch Updates Online Sale and Delivery of Alcohol Policy
On May 24, 2019, the British Columbia Liquor Control and Cannabis Regulation Branch (the “BC Liquor Branch”) updated its policies to clarify who will be held liable for non-compliance with the Liquor Control and Licensing Act (the “Act”) during the...
