Members
Member Appointments
The Governor in Council appoints judicial members from the Federal Court on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. Lay members are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. They provide expertise based on their individual backgrounds in economics, business, finance, accounting or marketing. Lay members are appointed on a part-time basis.
The members are appointed for fixed terms of up to seven years and may be reappointed. One of the judicial members is appointed Chairperson of the Tribunal by the Governor in Council.
Chairperson's Role
The Chairperson directs the work of the Tribunal and, in particular, allocates case work to the members. The Tribunal must hear applications for orders under Part VIII of the Competition Act (Matters reviewable by the Tribunal) in panels of three to five members. A judicial member must preside at the hearing and there should be at least one lay member on the panel.
Mr. Andrew D. Little of the Federal Court is the Chairperson of the Competition Tribunal.
Judicial Members
Mr. Justice Andrew D. Little (Chairperson)
Appointed November 5, 2020 to November 4, 2027
Appointed Chairperson April 30, 2022 to November 4, 2027
Andrew D. Little was appointed Chair of the Competition Tribunal effective April 30, 2022. He was appointed to the Tribunal on November 5, 2020 and to the Federal Court on April 28, 2020.
During his career as a lawyer, Justice Little worked at law firms in Toronto and, for over a decade, in Calgary. He acted as counsel in a wide variety of litigation, regulatory and arbitration matters. From 2013 to 2015, he was seconded to the Department of Justice, serving as General Counsel at the Competition Bureau.
Justice Little’s competition law expertise included online marketing, advertising and price representations; abuse of dominance (monopolization); mergers; and other matters under the Competition Act and related laws. His private sector clients included parties under investigation, companies seeking compliance advice, merging parties, and complainants to the Competition Bureau.
Justice Little represented the Commissioner of Competition and private parties in Competition Tribunal proceedings. While in law practice, he was a frequent speaker, writer, and presenter on competition/antitrust law, administrative law, contracts, arbitration, and legal developments in appeal courts.
Justice Little is a graduate of Queen's University, Dalhousie Law School, and Balliol College, Oxford. He served as law clerk for Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé at the Supreme Court of Canada in 1990-91.
Mr. Justice Denis Gascon
Appointed Chairperson April 30, 2015 to April 29, 2022
Re-appointed as Member April 30, 2022 to April 29, 2029
The Honourable Denis Gascon was appointed a judge of the Federal Court on February 26, 2015. Prior to joining the Federal Court, Mr. Justice Gascon was a partner with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada in Montreal, where he was heading the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Team in Canada. He was also part of the Norton Rose Fulbright global leadership group for their Antitrust and Competition practice.
Mr. Justice Gascon practised competition law and international trade law at Ogilvy Renault (now Norton Rose Fulbright Canada) for 25 years, after being called to the Bar of Quebec in 1989. Over the years, he advised Canadian and international companies on all aspects of competition and international trade laws, including Canadian and multi-jurisdictional merger transactions, criminal cartel and conspiracy cases, distribution strategies and pricing practices, compliance programs and trade remedy cases. He has regularly appeared before the Canadian Competition Bureau and the Competition Tribunal. He has also assisted companies in foreign investment reviews under the Investment Canada Act.
Mr. Justice Gascon has been on the executive of the Canadian Bar Association Competition Law Section for several years and acted as Chair of the Section in 2013 2014. He was a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Throughout his career as a lawyer, Mr. Justice Gascon has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading competition and international trade lawyers, notably in the Canadian Lexpert Directory and in Best Lawyers in Canada as well as in various international publications such as Chambers Global, Global Competition Review, Legal Media Group and PLC Cross-border Competition Law Handbook. He was also an experienced author and frequent speaker who has written or co-written numerous articles and books in the areas of competition law and international trade.
Mr. Justice Gascon received his Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Montréal in 1988. He also has a Bachelor of Science as well as a Diplôme d'études approfondies in economics.
Mr. Justice Paul S. Crampton
Appointed March 19, 2010 to March 18, 2015
Appointed April 30,2015 to April 29,2022
Re-appointed April 30, 2022 to April 29, 2029
Paul S. Crampton was appointed to the Competition Tribunal on March 19, 2010 and to the Federal Court on November 26, 2009. Prior to joining the Federal Court, he was a partner in the Competition Law Group at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Toronto, Canada from 2004 to 2009.
Between 2002 and 2004, he was Head of Outreach, in the Competition Division of the OECD. In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the OECD's work in the competition field with developing and transitioning countries. From 1992 to 2002, he was a partner in the Competition Law Group at Davies, Ward, Phillips and Vineberg LLP.
He is a Past Chair of The Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Task Force on Competition Law and Policy; a former member of the International Chamber of Commerce's Working Party on International Competition Law Convergence; a former member of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council's Competition Principles Working Group; and a past Chair of committees of the Competition Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and the Section of International Law and Practice of the American Bar Association.
He is also the author of Mergers and the Competition Act, a leading text on the merger provisions of the Competition Act, and of numerous articles published in domestic and international journals. He has spoken extensively on competition law throughout North America, the Pacific Rim countries and Europe.
Between 1987 and 1991, he held various positions within the Competition Bureau, including Special Advisor to the Commissioner of Competition (formerly the Director of Investigation and Research). In that capacity, his duties included being the principal drafter of the Bureau's 1991 Merger Enforcement Guidelines, and participating in the development of other Bureau policy statements, such as the Price Discrimination Enforcement Guidelines and the Predatory Pricing Enforcement Guidelines.
He coordinated the Competition Law course in York University's LL.M Programme in International Trade and Competition law (1997-1998), and was the principal lecturer of competition law courses at University of Ottawa Law School (1988-1990), and University of Toronto Law School (1992).
Madame Justice Jocelyne Gagné
Appointed December 21, 2016 to December 20, 2023
Re-appointed on December 21, 2023 to December 20, 2030
Justice Gagné studied economics at the University of Quebec at Montréal and in 1989, she received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Montréal. Admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1990, she practised civil and commercial litigation for 22 years, first with the firm Desjardins Ducharme then, as of 2007, with Lavery, deBilly.
Since her appointment to the Federal Court on May 31, 2012, she has been appointed Judge of the Court Martial Appeal Court in 2013, a member of the Military Judges Inquiry Committee in 2015, and a Judicial Member of the Competition Tribunal in 2016.
Part-Time Lay Members
Dr. Wiktor Askanas
Appointed July 14, 2017 to July 13, 2018
Appointed April 15, 2019 to April 14, 2026
Dr. Wiktor Askanas is currently a Professor with the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). He joined the Faculty in 1983 and is a member of the Strategy and Marketing Area. Over the years, Dr. Askanas has served UNB in various capacities including serving as Acting Dean, Faculty of Business Administration and as a member of UNB's Board of Governors. Dr. Askanas has received numerous awards throughout his career including the Allan B. Stuart Excellence in Teaching award, the 3M Teaching Fellowship and in 2003 he received the National Post Business Educator Award. Dr. Askanas was appointed as a lay member of the Competition Tribunal on May 9, 2014 for a three year term and reappointed on July 14, 2017 for a one year term.
Dr. Askanas has been re-appointed as lay member of the Tribunal for a seven year term, effective April 15, 2019.
Ms. Binah Nathan
Appointed April 15, 2019 to April 14, 2026
Ms. Binah Nathan is an experienced and accredited corporate director. She is a former senior capital markets professional who has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her expertise includes finance and mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Nathan holds an ICD.D designation offered through the Institute of Corporate Directors in partnership with University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds an MBA from the University of Windsor and an Honours BSc in Biochemistry from McMaster University. Ms. Nathan has received numerous awards throughout her career including the Return to Bay Street Award by Women in Capital Markets, the Gold Award by the Canadian Securities Institute and the Governor General’s Scholarship by McMaster University. Currently, Ms. Nathan is a member of the board and serves on the Finance and Audit Committee of Pro-Demnity Insurance Company.
Ms. Nathan has been appointed as a lay member of the Competition Tribunal on April 15, 2019 for a term of seven years.
Dr. Stephen Law
Appointed April 15, 2019 to April 14, 2026
Stephen Law received his PhD in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1997. He has held faculty positions at the University of New Brunswick and Ryerson University and is currently Professor of Economics at Mount Allison University where he teaches courses in Industrial Organization, Law & Economics, International Trade, and Health Economics. He has published research papers in journals such as the Canadian Journal of Economics, Applied Economics, and the Review of Industrial Organization on a wide range of topics including regulatory economics; intellectual property rights and competition policy; pharmacist behavior; pharmaceutical formularies; real options analysis in the rail industry; nutrient price indexes and food taxation; and the economics of the telecommunications and re-broadcasting sector. His research interests are in applied microeconomics, particularly the study of regulatory policy.
Dr. Law has been appointed as a lay member of the Competition Tribunal on April 15, 2019 for a term of seven years.
Dr. Ted Horbulyk
Appointed April 15, 2019 to April 14, 2026
Ted Horbulyk is an associate professor emeritus of economics at the University of Calgary. He holds a doctorate in economics from Queen’s University, Kingston, with specialization in public finance and industrial organization. He was a co-editor of the Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, and he has held visiting appointments at universities in Australia, El Salvador, Norway, and elsewhere in Canada. Dr. Horbulyk has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Universities Academic Pension Plan in Alberta, and has served in advisory and consulting roles to governments in Canada and abroad.From 2015 until2018, Dr. Horbulyk led the research group in economics at the International Water Management Institute in Sri Lanka. He now serves as a part-time consultant internationally on issues of economic development and policy.
Dr. Horbulyk was appointed as a lay member of the Competition Tribunal for a term of seven years, effective April 15, 2019.
Ms. Ramaz Samrout
Appointed June 2, 2019 to June 1, 2026
Ms. Ramaz Samrout has over 19 years of experience, in both the public and private sectors, in applying regulatory economic methods, policies and analysis.
She has a high level of expertise in applied regulatory and micro-economics, cost and profitability, pricing methods in competitive and non-competitive services, and supply chain optimization. Ms. Samrout is currently the managing partner of the consulting firm REIM Strategies. In her previous employment as the Director of Regulatory Economics at the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, she managed the financial impact on costs and profitability, and all the regulatory requirements under the Canadian Transportation Act, regulations, and government policies. She has received awards for influencing change in the Federal Government’s regulations and policies in the Canadian railway sector.
Ms. Samrout received her BA in Economics from Dalhousie University and her MA in Economics from Carleton University.
Ms. Samrout has been appointed as a lay member of the Competition Tribunal on June 2, 2019 for a term of seven years.
Lay Members Responsibilities
- As a panel member, undertakes the review of submissions and reports, participates in hearings before the Tribunal (listens to evidence and argument, examines fact and expert testimony, questions and clarifies argument of legal counsel and experts);
- Participates in panel deliberations, analyses evidence and arguments, and determines matters under Part VIII of the Competition Act using independent, impartial judgment based on evidence;
- Drafts Tribunal decisions with other panel members, ensuring that proper economic, business, commercial and financial analysis is reflected in decisions;
- Complies with the Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders in the conduct quasi-judicial hearings;
- Develops and maintains professional knowledge of relevant business/economic theory, research, national and international trends and related jurisprudence;
- Remains current on professional knowledge of relevant theory, research, national and international trends and related jurisprudence;
- Attends the Tribunal’s members meeting and professional conferences, reads Tribunal decisions as they are distributed, adheres to the Tribunal’s rules, and avoids conflict of interest.
Pre-Requisites for Part-Time Lay Members
Education and Experience
- Post graduate degree at the Doctorate or Masters level in business, commerce or finance, or hold a professional designation such as Chartered Accountant; or
- Post graduate degree at the Doctorate or Masters level in Industrial Economics, for economist positions; and
- Advanced private or public sector or academic experience directly related to business, commerce, finance, accounting or industrial organization economics; and
- Experience in reviewing and analysing jurisprudence, legal and economic arguments, industry studies and expert testimony and in applying expert evidence to determine the merits of cases in the context of competition law.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Current knowledge of: the Canadian economy and marketplace; the Canadian business/economic competitive environment; global economic environment and trends; the history, content, intent and jurisprudence related to the Competition Act; national and international trade agreements, practices and other relevant tribunal decisions;
- Highly developed analytical skills to: analyse voluminous, lengthy, complex economic and legal material; examine and assess facts and legal arguments pertaining to complex business conduct and competition law; and apply legislation, jurisprudence and precedents to deal with new situations or cases;
- Excellent oral communication skills to: formulate questions to counsel and witnesses that probe the validity of argument or evidence; and determine the merits of applications with other panel members who have diverse professional backgrounds;
- Excellent writing skills are required to participate in the drafting of reasons for panel decisions and/or for dissenting opinion.
Language
- French or English
- Proficiency in both official languages is an asset.
Personal Attributes
- High ethical standards and integrity;
- Sound judgment;
- Superior interpersonal skills;
- Respect, fairness and impartiality; and
- Tact and discretion
Conditions of Employment
- Willingness to commit to be available to participate as a Tribunal member, on an “as required” basis, throughout the appointment term;
- Willing to travel across Canada;
- Flexible to travel for extended periods of time; and
- Willing and capable of adapting to uncertain or changeable schedule, often without much notice.
Current and Former Judicial Members
Current and Former Judicial Members| Member | Appointment Date | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Andrew D. Little | November 5, 2020 as Member April 30, 2022 as Chairperson |
November 4, 2027 November 4, 2027 |
| Associate Chief Justice Jocelyne Gagné | December 21, 2016 as Member Decembre 21, 2023 as Member |
December 20, 2023 – term expired December 20, 2030 |
| Justice Denis Gascon | April 30, 2015 as Member April 30, 2015 as Chairperson April 30, 2022 as Member |
April 29, 2022 – term expired April 29, 2022 – term expired April 29, 2029 |
| Chief Justice Paul S. Crampton | March 19, 2010 as Member April 30, 2015, as Member April 30, 2022, as Member |
March 18, 2015 – term expired April 29, 2022 – term expired April 29, 2029 |
| Member | Appointment Date | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Elizabeth Walker | September 28, 2023 as Member | September 27, 2030 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Michael L. Phelan | June 24, 2005 as Member December 21, 2016 as Member |
June 23, 2012 – term expired May 31, 2022 – retired |
| Justice Robert L. Barnes | April 30, 2015 as Member | April 29, 2021 – term expired |
| Justice Donald J. Rennie | May 3, 2012 as Member May 31, 2012 as Chairperson |
February 27, 2015 – to F.C.A. (continued to act informally as Chairperson until the appointment of new Chairperson) |
| Justice André F.J. Scott | September 29, 2011 as Member | January 31, 2014 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Edmond P. Blanchard | October 29, 2002 as Member Re-appointed as Member on November 26, 2009 |
October 28, 2009 – term expired November 25, 2012 – term expired |
| Justice Johanne Gauthier | November 26, 2009 as Member | October 21, 2011 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Robert M. Mainville | November 26, 2009 as Member | June 18, 2010 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Eleanor R. Dawson | February 26, 2002 as Member Re-appointed as Member on June 19, 2009 |
February 25, 2009 – term expired December 28, 2009 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Sandra J. Simpson | June 10, 1993 as Member Re-appointed as Member on June 10, 2000 June 18, 2003 as Chairperson Re-appointed as Member on June 10, 2007 Re-appointed as Chairperson on June 10, 2007 |
June 9, 2014 as Member – term expired June 9, 2012 as Chairperson – term expired |
| Justice François Lemieux | February 26, 2002 as Member | February 25, 2009 – retired |
| Justice Pierre Blais | October 29, 2002 as Member | February 20, 2008 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice William P. McKeown | April 1, 1993 as Chairperson Re-appointed as Chairperson on March 28, 2000 |
September 1, 2002 – retired |
| Justice Allan Lutfy | June 8, 1999 as Member | September 19, 2001 – to C. J. |
| Justice Marc Nadon | December 16, 1998 as Member | December 14, 2001 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Marshall E. Rothstein | May 28, 1993 as Member | January 22, 1999 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Marc Noël | May 28, 1993 as Member | June 25, 1998 – to F.C.A. |
| Justice Barbara Reed | June 30, 1986 as Chairperson | October 19, 1992 – resigned |
| Justice Leonard Martin | June 30, 1986 as Member | October 24, 1991 – resigned |
| Justice Barry L. Strayer | June 30, 1986 as Member | April 23, 1993 – resigned |
| Justice Max M. Teitelbaum | June 30, 1986 as Member | April 15, 1993 – resigned |
Current and Former Lay Members
Current and Former Lay Members| Member | Appointment Date | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| Samrout, Ramaz | June 2, 2019 | June 1, 2026 |
| Askanas, Dr. Wiktor | February 9, 2007 Re-appointed on May 9, 2014 Re-appointed on July 14, 2017 Re-appointed on April 15, 2019 |
February 8, 2014 – term expired May 8, 2017 – term expired July 13, 2018 – term expired April 14, 2026 |
| Nathan, Binah | April 15, 2019 | April 14, 2026 |
| Law, Dr. Stephen | April 15, 2019 | April 14, 2026 |
| Horbulyk, Dr. Ted | April 15, 2019 | April 14, 2026 |
| Member | Appointment Date | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| McFetridge, Dr. Donald G. | June 21, 2012 Re-appointed on June 21, 2019 |
June 20, 2019 – term expired May 20, 2020 - resigned |
| Schwartz, L.P. | September 14, 1998 Re-appointed February 5, 2015 |
December 31, 2018 – resigned September 13, 2003 – term expired |
| Montgomery, K.C. | November 5, 2009 | November 4, 2016 – term expired |
| Luongo, E.R. | August 4, 2009 | August 3, 2016 – term expired |
| Goluch, R.Z. | August 4, 2009 | August 3, 2016 – term expired |
| Tannis, R.G. | August 4, 2009 | August 3, 2016 – term expired |
| Lanctôt, H. | March 5, 2007 | March 4, 2013 – term expired |
| Gervais, P. A. | April 30, 2007 | April 29, 2009 – term expired |
| Riedle, L. | July 16, 2002 Re-appointed on September 29, 2005 |
September 28, 2008 – term expired |
| Jones, F.D | July 16, 2002 | July 15, 2007 – term expired |
| Csorgo, L1 | December 20, 2004 | June 21, 2007 – resigned |
| Bolton, L.R. | October 1, 1996 Re-appointed on October 1, 2001 |
September 30, 2006 – term expired |
| Gervason, P. | January 24, 2003 | January 23, 2006 – term expired |
| Solursh, G. | May 16, 2000 Re-appointed on May 16, 2002 |
May 15, 2004 – term expired |
| Reny, A.L | May 16, 2000 Re-appointed on May 16, 2002 |
May 15, 2004 – term expired |
| Roy, V. | June 20, 2000 | June 19, 2002 – term expired |
| Lloyd, C. | June 13, 1995 Re-appointed on June 13, 2000 |
January 6, 2002 – resigned |
| Côté, A. | March 11, 1993 | March 10, 2000 – term expired |
| Mathieu, G. | May 21, 1992 | May 20, 1997 – term expired |
| Smith, L.J. | May 21, 1992 | May 20, 1997 – term expired |
| Roseman, Dr. F. | August 4, 1986 Re-appointed on November 12, 1986 Re-appointed on February 13, 1987 Re-appointed on May 12, 1987 Re-appointed on May 12, 1994 |
May 11, 1997 – term expired |
| Clarke, V.L. | January 31, 1990 | January 30, 1995 – term expired |
| Sarrazin, M.-H. | September 28, 1987 | September 27, 1992 – term expired |
| Trebilcock, M. | September 28, 1987 | January 6, 1989 – resigned |
1 Full-time economist.