Area of Mutual Interest Agreements and Canadian Competition Law Considerations

Area of Mutual Interest Agreements (AMIAs) are a common feature within the Canadian oil and gas industry. These agreements are usually entered into for the purposes of sharing technical information between two or more parties. This article explores the implications of the various types of AMIAs in relation to the Competition Act. While there is essentially no applicable Canadian case law on the subject, this article examines the potential civil and criminal penalties that the Competition Act may impose. In addition to detailing the statutory landscape in Canada, this article looks at how this issue has unfolded in the United States.