Gatineau, Québec, March 4, 2026 — Canada’s Competition Tribunal has dismissed Google’s constitutional challenge in an ongoing abuse of dominance case brought by the Competition Bureau over alleged anti-competitive conduct in online advertising.
In a statement following the ruling, Acting Commissioner of Competition Jeanne Pratt welcomed the decision, saying the Tribunal rejected Google’s claim that a constitutional right had been breached.
“The Tribunal’s decision reinforces its clear authority to order administrative monetary penalties to promote compliance and deter anti-competitive behaviour,” Pratt said.
The Bureau’s litigation against Google will continue, with the final decision on the case, including any potential penalties, to be determined by the Competition Tribunal.
According to the Bureau, its investigation found that Google engaged in anti-competitive conduct that allowed the company to entrench its dominant position in advertising technology markets. The Bureau alleges the conduct prevented rivals from competing, inhibited innovation, increased advertising costs and reduced publishers’ revenues.
The case originates from an application filed by the Bureau in November 2024 alleging that Google abused its dominant position as the largest provider of ad-tech tools across the Canadian online advertising supply chain.
Google filed a notice of constitutional question before the Competition Tribunal on February 14, 2025, challenging aspects of the proceedings. The Competition Bureau subsequently filed a motion on June 4, 2025, seeking to strike the constitutional question.
With the Tribunal’s ruling dismissing the constitutional challenge, the Bureau’s abuse of dominance case against Google will proceed.
