This report looks at the rules and legislation that govern mergers of large Canadian banks from the consumer point of view and assesses how large bank mergers would likely affect consumers in relation to issues of access, choice and price of banking services. Large bank mergers are permitted in Canada, subject to a series of reviews, with final approval by the Minister of Finance, but none have been approved in recent years.
This report was prompted by a public review, initiated in 2002 by the federal government, of some of the policies that govern bank mergers. The purpose of the review was to look at the public interest implications of large bank mergers and determine what public interest considerations should be taken into account by the Minister of Finance in making a decision concerning a bank merger proposal. Despite the subject matter of this consultation there was minimal representation from the general public or consumers to the legislative committees that were tasked with this matter in contrast to significant representation and input by banks.
Media Release: Bank Mergers and the Public Interest [pdf file: 0.02mb]
Bank Mergers and the Public Interest (Full Report) [pdf file: 0.13mb]
Executive Summary [pdf file: 0.02mb]
Sommaire exécutif [pdf file: 0.03mb]