The Competition Tribunal of Canada dismissed Google’s constitutional challenge this week, a setback for the tech giant as it fights allegations of anti-competitive practices in the online advertising market, according to reports published Thursday.
The challenge centered on a potential monetary penalty Google could face if the tribunal ultimately sides with the Competition Bureau. The Bureau alleges Google abused its dominant position in the online advertising sector. Google argued the proposed penalty – either three times the benefit derived from the alleged anti-competitive practices, or three per cent of its annual worldwide gross revenues – was excessive and violated its constitutional rights.
Google characterized the potential fine as “shocking, gargantuan” and “unprecedented in Canadian history,” estimating it could reach $91 billion. The company contended that such a large fine was akin to a criminal penalty and exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdictional authority. Judge Andrew Little disagreed, stating the fine remained “hypothetical at best” in his dismissal order.
The Competition Bureau maintained that Google’s charter rights were not breached and that the tribunal was within its rights to consider a penalty of that magnitude. The Bureau’s case asserts that Google’s control over the online advertising ecosystem has caused harm to competitors and consumers.
The ruling does not determine whether Google actually engaged in anti-competitive behavior; it only addresses the constitutional question of the potential penalty. The tribunal will now proceed to consider the merits of the Competition Bureau’s allegations. Google provided the same statement it gave to The Canadian Press in November when initially sued by the bureau, according to Yahoo Finance Canada.
The case is being closely watched as it could set a precedent for how competition authorities in Canada address the dominance of large technology companies. The Canadian Press reported the initial publication of this story on March 5, 2026.
