Federal Court Clarifies Rights of Parties in Combines Inquiry Examination of Witnesses

Résumé

A judgment in Toronto by Mr. Justice Collier of the Federal Court of Canada will, if sustained on appeal, broaden the rights which have heretofore been accorded interested parties and their counsel during examination of witnesses in the course of inquiries under the Combines Investigation Act (Harold Irvine et al. v Restrictive Trade Practices Commission et al., March 12, 1981). The Court rules, inter alia, that counsel for interested parties have the right to cross-examine witnesses and that interested parties may be present along with their counsel throughout the examinations. Both sides have appealed.