UCalgary Economics Department launches new regulatory and competition policy research program

The program will be the first in a Canadian university to focus on the practice and policy of regulation and competition enforcement

Calgary, AB – The University of Calgary’s Department of Economics in the Faculty of Arts has launched a new program to provide a bridge between academic research and real-world policy challenges in the realm of competition and regulation in Canada. The objective of the Research Program on Competition and Regulation (RPCR) is to create a dedicated hub for research, commentary, and education focused on the application of economic principles to Canadian regulatory and competition policy.

“Regulatory economics considers the potential for government intervention to control the exercise of market power, while competition policy is intervention to preserve competition. The RPCR will enhance engagement with the community, in terms of having a policy dialogue with Canadians, firms, governments and regulators about how we can do things better.” Jeffrey Church, emeritus professor, Department of Economics and co-director, RPCR

The subject matter and relevance of these areas are best illustrated by examples and relevant research questions:

• Why are there so many regulators involved in permitting interprovincial pipelines, including the Canada Energy Regulator and the Impact Assessment Agency, and what will be the effect of the changes in regulatory oversight in the Building Canada Act, included in Bill C-5?

• Should Google be allowed to enter exclusive contracts with Apple to make Google Search the default search engine on the iPhone?

• Why were Rogers and Shaw permitted to merge, and should they have been allowed to merge?

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The co-directors say the creation of the RPCR is a response to regulation and competition policy becoming untethered from their economic moorings. Instead of interventions to promote wealth creation and enhance competition, the focus has been on redistribution, driven by political considerations.

“Canada lacks a dedicated research program embedded within a university that focuses on the practice and policy of regulation and competition enforcement. Good regulation and competition policy are essential to enhance productivity and to protect consumers. The RPCR will help to improve policies that are important for every Canadian.” Aidan Hollis, professor and department head, Department of Economics, and co-director, RCPR

The RPCR also builds upon the existing Summer Internship in Regulatory Economics (SIRE) program offered by the department. After completing relevant course work that includes a research component, undergraduate students through SIRE are placed in regulatory and competition internships. Over the past 26 years, more than 150+ students have been placed with 25 employer organizations. The co-directors want to preserve and enhance the SIRE program through the RPCR. They also want to focus the research in the program on Canadian policy issues. There is currently no independent voice in Canada in the areas of regulatory and competition policy. The RPCR would be able to provide that independent voice and critical commentary on these issues.

As its inaugural event, RPCR is hosting a conference to explore Canada’s experience with regulatory oversight of major projects. The 2026 RPCR Conference—Regulatory Reform in Canada: A Discussion and Assessment of Bill C-5—will be in Calgary on Wednesday, April 29. The conference will address this important legislation from both economic and legal perspectives.

To learn more about RPCR, as well as its inaugural event and to register for the conference please visit www.rpcr.ca.

Media inquiries

Brennan Black

Advisor, Media Relations

368-886-3135

Brennan.black@ucalgary.ca 

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university in this country’s most enterprising city. The youngest top five research university in Canada, UCalgary is a leader in startup creation and research innovation. With groundbreaking discoveries in child health, quantum computing and water sustainability, we’re transforming bold ideas into real-world impact. Curious and determined, our 38,000 students are using hands-on learning to forge bright futures for all. Ready to take the leap? Start something at UCalgary.

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