Mar. 27, 2024 - Substantial amendments to the Investment Canada Act (ICA) were enacted on March 22, 2024, with the passing of Bill C-34, the National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act. These amendments, long in the works, will come into effect on a date to be fixed by Cabinet. It...
Jim Dinning Comments on Influencer Sponsorships
Davies partner Jim Dinning was quoted in a CBC article about a growing trend among Canadian athletes and other influencers who are tagging paid social media posts with #sponsored or #ad on their feeds.
The rise of influencers making sponsored posts has highlighted the lack of clarity regarding how these posts should be regulated. Jim notes that there “aren’t any specific rules or guidance by [Canada’s] Competition Bureau that look at social media influencers,” and that the “legislation is broad enough to capture any deceptive advertising practice.”
Jim also points out that “any information shared that isn’t an independent view that influences a person’s buying decision should be clearly and accurately labelled as advertising.” Advertising Standards Canada agrees with this point of view, having updated its guidelines to require influencers to disclose when posts are paid advertisements.
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Mar. 13, 2024 - The Canadian government recently issued two policy statements (IDM Statements) affirming that it will enhance its scrutiny under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) of foreign investments in the Canadian Interactive Digital Media (IDM) sector. One of the statements sets out the...