Page 29 - CCCA64_2012

CCCA_V6No4_CoverStory-FIN_CCCA 11/27/12 12:32 PM Page 29 Q&A: Feature Melanie Aitken In her own words Many talented and intelligent competition commissioners have had a major impact on competition law practice in Canada. But few have had the profile of Melanie Aitken, who gained a reputation as a tough watchdog and a keen enforcer during her relatively short tenure. Aitken’s appointment in 2009 coincided with the introduction of many important amendments to Competition Act. The combina- tion proved to be a turning point in the way that the Competition Bureau does business and how Canadians perceive it. We asked Aitken to share her thoughts on her time with the bureau and how it has changed over the past few years. By Pablo Fuchs Q: How did the amendments to the federal Competition Act, along with your approach toward enforcement,help change the competition law landscape in Canada? A:The very introduction of the amendments by Parliament was a clear signal to us at the bureau that the government expected a reinforced and renewed enforcement agenda.We embraced that challenge,and we focused on that essence of our mandate.And the amend- ments themselves,what was embodied in those was a much more coherent criminal con- spiracy provision and a much, much more workable merger review framework, giving us HIVER 2012 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 29