Didn't Sears partner with Simpsons when it first moved into Canada?

Wasn't there an informal or perhaps formal behind the scenes price fixing arrangement between Eatons, Simpsons, Woodwards and Sears that froze out any manufacturer or wholesaler who sold to other outlets at discount prices? 

Didn't the cost of living typically dropped by 15% when Walmart opened a store in a new Canadian city? Those high profit margins left Sears unable to compete with lower margin stores.