Agenda
- Welcome and introductions
- Course overview
- Course logistics
- Major papers
Course Overview
Key questions
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What is competition law? Why do we want more competition and what does competition law really aim to achieve? What are the limits of competition policy?
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Where do the rules/principles of competition law come from? Where should they come from?
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How should competition law adapt to rapidly changing market conditions and regulatory environments?
Legal and Regulatory Landscape
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Competition Act, RSC 1985, c C-34 (+ Minister of Industry)
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Competition Bureau
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Competition Tribunal (+FCA and SCC) [civil enforcement]
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Superior Courts [criminal enforcement]
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Private enforcement
Motivating worry?
Canada is in a new “gilded age”: market power is becoming more concentrated, leading to declining competition and greater inequality across Canadian society.
How do we know if competition is declining?
How do we know if competition is declining?
Course Logistics
Schedule
Weeks 2-7: substantive topics in competition law
Weeks 8-11: major paper presentations
Reading List / Materials
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All materials on Brightspace / online
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Required vs background materials
Course communications and office hours
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Announcements via Brightspace
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Office hours on demand
Weekly meetings
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2 hours with a short break in the middle
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Student-driven discussion format, with some mini-lectures on key topics
Major Papers
Goals
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Learn to identify, plan and scope a suitable research topic
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Develop independent research skills to engage with and critically analyze a range of primary and secondary sources
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Advance writing skills by emphasizing clarity, structure, and the development of a persuasive personal writing style
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Gain experience in planning and delivering a policy/scholarly presentation
Evaluation components:
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Final research paper (80%): due Apr 13
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Research paper proposal (10%): due Feb 2
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Research paper presentation (10%): scheduled Mar 12 - Apr 2
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Optional draft review/feedback (not graded): due Mar 15
Formal Requirements
See the Major Paper Guidelines for this course on Brightspace.
AI Policy
“Students may use AI-driven tools to assist them in learning, but with the understanding that the objective of this course is to understand, achieve, and apply the course competencies and outcomes. Students may use tools for learning, including using AI for brainstorming, generating outlines, explaining concepts, receiving writing feedback, preparing study aids, summarizing a text and/or time management.
However, all assessments in this course will disallow the use of AI-driven tools. This policy is in place to determine whether students have attained course learning outcomes. In the process of completing these assessments, students must be able to analyze, assess, and produce work unassisted by AI technology.”
Finding a Research Topic
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What interests you? What brought you to the course?
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Subject-specific news services and aggregators
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Grey literature & blogs
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Scholarly literature
News Services & Aggregators
Grey Literature & Blogs
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Law Firm Blogs (Fasken, Lenczner, Dentons, Norton Rose, Stikeman)