The federal Competition Bureau is seeking public comment on its Bank Merger Enforcement Guidelines.

The bureau’s bank merger guidelines were first published in 1998, establishing the analytical framework used by the Competition Bureau when assessing the competitive effects of a merger involving Canada’s banks

In June 2003, the federal government issued its response to recent House of Commons and Senate Committee Reports on bank mergers, recommending that the Competition Bureau review the guidelines. “In reviewing the [guidelines] and determining if the analytical approach remains valid, the Competition Bureau invites interested parties to provide comments and/or suggestions by February 2, 2004.”

The Competition Bureau says that it will review the comments received and set out its policies on the matter by June 30, 2004.