Skip to Main content

21.68°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Feb 27, 2024 4:03 PM - The Canadian Press

Ottawa freezes merger notification threshold, funds housing innovation projects

Share On

ottawa-freezes-merger-notification-threshold-funds-housing-innovation-projects

It also announced $123 million of funding to eight homebuilders that the federal government says are driving innovation and will help build more than 5,000 affordable homes.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

The federal government is freezing the threshold at which the Competition Bureau must be notified of a merger.

It also announced $123 million of funding to eight homebuilders that the federal government says are driving innovation and will help build more than 5,000 affordable homes.

The announcements came this morning during Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's weekly economic update alongside other ministers.

Competition law requires mergers that exceed a certain value to be flagged to the Competition Bureau in advance, so it can determine whether the deal could prevent or lessen competition.

Ottawa says the amount usually increases along with gross domestic product but instead, it will be kept frozen at $93 million, the threshold since 2021.

The funding for homebuilders is being allocated through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, a program that funds rent-to-own schemes and other innovative projects.

Latest news

u-s-says-24-arrested-in-global-organized-crime-investigation-linked-to-nijjar-killing

CanadaJul 08, 2026

U.S. says 24 arrested in global organized crime investigation linked to Nijjar killing

The U.S. Department of Justice says 24 people have been arrested in several countries as part of an investigation into alleged crimes involving India-based organized crime groups. According to the Justice Department, three of those arrests were made in Canada. Officials said the investigation includes the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. The department has not released additional details about the identities of those arrested or the specific charges they face. Canadian authorities have not yet publicly commented on the U.S. announcement. The investigation rema

trump-reiterates-call-for-u-s-control-of-greenland-during-nato-summit

WorldJul 07, 2026

Trump reiterates call for U.S. control of Greenland during NATO summit

U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Greenland should be under United States control rather than Denmark, renewing remarks he has made previously about the strategically located Arctic territory. Speaking to reporters during the NATO summit in Türkiye while meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump said the presence of Chinese and Russian vessels in waters around Greenland is a security concern for the United States. He said Washington would not accept the current situation. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump's comments revive a l

b-c-government-says-it-will-pursue-legal-action-against-openai-over-tumbler-ridge-mass-shooting

B.C. government says it will pursue legal action against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting

The British Columbia government says it is preparing to launch legal proceedings against OpenAI in connection with the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, alleging the company failed to alert police after identifying warning signs on its ChatGPT platform. Attorney General Niki Sharma made the announcement during a news conference in Vancouver on Tuesday. According to Sharma, the province has retained legal counsel in both British Columbia and California, where OpenAI is headquartered, to pursue the case on behalf of the government. Sharma alleged that OpenAI identified violent activity linked to t

iran-says-no-final-agreement-talks-if-u-s-threats-continue

WorldJul 07, 2026

Iran says no final agreement talks if U.S. threats continue

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will not begin negotiations on a final agreement with the United States if what he described as U.S. threats continue. In a post on social media, Araghchi said Clause 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) states that negotiations on a final agreement cannot begin in an atmosphere of threats. He also urged the United States to honour its commitments under the agreement. According to Araghchi, Clause 13 commits both countries to implementing a ceasefire, removing restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, providing sanctions relief and

cbsa-lays-12-charges-against-two-alleged-immigration-agents-in-126-000-international-student-tuition-fraud-case

CanadaJul 07, 2026

CBSA lays 12 charges against two alleged immigration agents in $126,000 international student tuition fraud case

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid 12 criminal charges against two alleged immigration agents accused of defrauding international students of nearly $126,000 through a tuition fee scheme. According to the CBSA, the investigation began in February 2025 after Lambton College provided confidential information alleging that the suspects collected tuition payments from students, issued fraudulent documents, and failed to enroll them in the post-secondary programs they had promised. Following the seizure and examination of digital evidence, the CBSA said Hardik Dave of Cambridge, Ont.

Related News

U.S. says 24 arrested in global organized crime investigation linked to Nijjar killing

U.S. says 24 arrested in global organized crime investigation linked to Nijjar killing

The U.S. Department of Justice says 24 people have been arrested in several countries as part of an investigation into alleged crimes involving India-based organized crime groups. According to the Justice Department, three of those arrests were made in Canada. Officials said the investigation includes the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. The department has not released additional details about the identities of those arrested or the specific charges they face. Canadian authorities have not yet publicly commented on the U.S. announcement. The investigation rema

CBSA lays 12 charges against two alleged immigration agents in $126,000 international student tuition fraud case

CBSA lays 12 charges against two alleged immigration agents in $126,000 international student tuition fraud case

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid 12 criminal charges against two alleged immigration agents accused of defrauding international students of nearly $126,000 through a tuition fee scheme. According to the CBSA, the investigation began in February 2025 after Lambton College provided confidential information alleging that the suspects collected tuition payments from students, issued fraudulent documents, and failed to enroll them in the post-secondary programs they had promised. Following the seizure and examination of digital evidence, the CBSA said Hardik Dave of Cambridge, Ont.

Carney appoints principal secretary Tom Pitfield, Conservative MP Richard Martel to Senate

Carney appoints principal secretary Tom Pitfield, Conservative MP Richard Martel to Senate

Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed four new senators, including his principal secretary Tom Pitfield and Conservative MP Richard Martel, marking the first Senate appointments of his tenure. The Prime Minister's Office announced Tuesday that Pitfield and Martel will represent Quebec in the upper chamber. According to the announcement, Carney is also ending the previous government's practice of using a non-partisan advisory process as the primary criterion for Senate appointments. Pitfield has served as Carney's principal secretary since the prime minister took office in March 2025 and has

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital