Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the  Affordable Housing and Groceries Act . PART 1 R.S., c. E-15 Excise Tax Act 2 (1) The portion of subsection 256.2(3) of the  Excise Tax Act  after paragraph (d) and before the first formula in that subsection is replaced by the following:   the Minister shall, subject to subsections  (3.1) , (7) and (8), pay a rebate to the person equal to the total of all amounts each of which is an amount, in respect of a residential unit that forms part of the residential complex or addition, as the case may be, and is a qualifying residential unit of the person at the particular time, determined by the formula (2) Section 256.2 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3): Rebate for purpose-built rental housing (3.1) The amount of a rebate under subsection (3) in respect of a taxable supply of purpose-built rental housing — being prescribed property — is determined in accordance with subsection (3.2) if prescribed conditions are met and if (a) the taxable supply is a supply by way of sale of a residential complex or an interest in a residential complex to a person that is not a builder of the residential complex, or of a residential complex or an addition to a residential complex to a person that is, otherwise than by reason of subsection 190(1), a builder of the residential complex or addition, as the case may be, and the construction or last substantial renovation of the residential complex or addition, as the case may be, begins after September 13, 2023 but before 2031 and is substantially completed before 2036; or (b) the taxable supply is a supply by way of sale of a residential complex that is deemed to be made to a person that has converted real property for use as the residential complex and is, as a result, deemed under subsection 190(1) to be a builder of the residential complex and the construction or alteration necessary to effect the conversion begins after September 13, 2023 but before 2031 and is substantially completed before 2036. Amount of rebate — purpose-built rental housing (3.2) If subsection (3.1) applies, the amount of the rebate under subsection (3) is equal to the amount determined as if the first formula in subsection (3) and the descriptions for that formula were read as follows: A × B where A is the total tax under subsection 165(1) that is payable in respect of the purchase from the supplier or is deemed to have been paid in respect of the deemed purchase, and B is (i) if the unit is a residential condominium unit, 1, and (ii) in any other case, the unit’s percentage of total floor space. (3) Section 256.2 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (9): Public service bodies — purpose-built rental housing (9.1) If a person that is a public service body is entitled to a rebate under section 259 in respect of the tax under subsection 165(1) that is payable in respect of a purchase from the supplier (within the meaning of subparagraph (3)(a)(i)) or a deemed purchase (within the meaning of subparagraph (3)(a)(ii)), if subsection (3.1) applies in respect of the purchase from the supplier or the deemed purchase and if the person files in accordance with subsection (7) an application for a rebate under subsection (3) in respect of the purchase from the supplier or the deemed purchase, the following rules apply: (a) the reference in subsection (9) to “sections 254, 256, 256.1 and 259” is to be read as a reference to “sections 254, 256 and 256.1” in applying subsection (9) in respect of the tax included in determining the rebate under subsection (3); and (b) no amount of the tax included in determining the rebate under subsection (3) may be included in determining a rebate of the person under section 259. (4) Subsections (1) to (3) are deemed to have come into force on September 14, 2023. PART 2 R.S., c. C-34; R.S., c. 19 (2nd Supp.), s. 19 Competition Act Amendments to the Act 3 The  Competition Act  is amended by adding the following after section 10: Market or industry inquiry 10.1 (1) The Minister, if he or she is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so, may direct the Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the state of competition in a market or industry. Consultation (2) Before making the direction, the Minister must consult the Commissioner to determine whether the inquiry would be feasible, including with regard to its cost. Proposed terms of reference (3) If, after the consultation, the Minister directs the Commissioner to conduct the inquiry, the Commissioner must prepare proposed terms of reference for the inquiry and publish them on a publicly available website and invite the public to provide comments during a period of not less than 15 days. Final terms of reference (4) After having taken into account any comments received from the public, the Commissioner must submit to the Minister for approval the Commissioner’s final terms of reference and, if they are approved, the Commissioner must publish them on a publicly available website. Duration of inquiry (5) The inquiry commences on the day on which the final terms of reference are published and the Commissioner must complete the inquiry and publish a report of the Commissioner’s findings on a publicly available website before the expiry of the period specified by the Minister, which period, subject to subsection (6), is not to exceed 18 months. Extension (6) The Minister may extend the specified period for periods of up to three months. Sending draft to certain persons (7) Before the report is published, the Commissioner must send to every person who was required to do anything under an order made under subsection 11(1) a complete or partial draft of the report and inform the person that they may, within three working days after the day on which it was sent, provide the Commissioner with the person’s concerns regarding factual inaccuracies or confidential information that should not be disclosed in the final report. 4 The portion of subsection 11(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following: Order for oral examination, production or written return 11 (1) If, on the  ex parte  application of the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative, a judge of a superior or county court is satisfied by information on oath or solemn affirmation that an inquiry is being made under section 10  or 10.1  and that a person has or is likely to have information that is relevant to the inquiry, the judge may order the person to 5 Section 21 of the Act is replaced by the following: Counsel 21 Whenever in the opinion of the Commissioner the public interest so requires, the Commissioner may apply to the Attorney General of Canada to appoint and instruct counsel to assist in an inquiry under section 10  or 10.1 , and on such an application the Attorney General of Canada may appoint and instruct counsel accordingly. 6 Paragraph 29.1(2)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following: (b) any information obtained in the course of an inquiry under section 10  or 10.1 ; 7 Paragraph 29.2(2)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following: (b) any information obtained in the course of an inquiry under section 10  or 10.1 ; 8 (1) Section 90.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1): Exception — non competitors (1.1) If the Tribunal finds that a significant purpose of the agreement or arrangement, or any part of it, is to prevent or lessen competition in any market, it may make an order under subsection (1) even if none of the persons referred to in that subsection are competitors. (2) Subsection 90.1(11) of the Act is replaced by the following: Definition of  competitor (11) In  subsections  (1)  and (1.1) ,  competitor  includes a person who it is reasonable to believe would be likely to compete with respect to a product in the absence of the agreement or arrangement. 9 The portion of subsection 92(1) of the Act after paragraph (d) and before paragraph (e) is replaced by the following: the Tribunal may, subject to sections 94  and 95 , 10 Section 96 of the Act is repealed. 11 Subsection 124.2(1) of the Act is replaced by the following: Reference if parties agree 124.2 (1) The Commissioner and a person who is the subject of an inquiry under section 10  or 10.1  may by agreement refer to the Tribunal for determination any question of law, mixed law and fact, jurisdiction, practice or procedure, in relation to the application or interpretation of Part VII.1 or VIII, whether or not an application has been made under Part VII.1 or VIII. Transitional Provision Sections 92 and 96 of the  Competition Act 12 Sections 92 and 96 of the  Competition Act , as they read before the day on which sections  9  and  10  come into force, continue to apply after that day to a proposed transaction notified under section 114 of that Act before that day or to a merger that has been substantially completed before that day. Coming into Force First anniversary 13 Section  8  comes into force on the first anniversary of the day on which this Act receives royal assent.