Gatineau, March 12, 2026 — Canada’s Competition Bureau has reached a consent agreement with Chartwell Master Care LP to address competition concerns arising from its proposed acquisition of six retirement homes from Sifton Properties Limited.
Following its review, the Bureau concluded that the transaction would likely substantially lessen competition in the market for health care services and accommodation provided by licensed retirement homes in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of Ontario.
To resolve these concerns, Chartwell has agreed to sell its Clair Hills retirement home in Waterloo, Ontario, to an independent buyer approved by the Commissioner of Competition. The Bureau said the divestiture is expected to preserve competition in the local retirement home market.
The Competition Bureau noted that the retirement home sector is becoming increasingly important as Canada’s population ages and demand for senior housing and care services continues to grow. Strong competition in the industry helps keep prices under control and encourages providers to maintain high standards of care and facilities, the authority said.
Chartwell is one of Canada’s largest owners and operators of retirement properties, with facilities across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, while Sifton is a property developer with holdings that include retirement communities, rental housing and residential developments.
The consent agreement includes measures designed to address the likely anti-competitive effects of the proposed merger and will have the force of a court order once registered with the Competition Tribunal, the Bureau said.
