Apple ordered to hand over documents in Competition Bureau probe

Apple Canada Inc. has been ordered to hand over "relevant" documents to the Competition Bureau related to an investigation into whether Apple uses anti-competitive clauses to push the sale of its iPhones.

Wednesday's ruling by Chief Justice Paul Crampton of the Federal Court of Canada came about a week after the bureau filed an application to require the Canadian subsidiary of the U.S. computer giant and smartphone maker to provide written records.

The bureau is investigating whether Apple used the popularity of its smartphones to include anti-competitive clauses in its contracts with wireless carriers.

The bureau says it hasn't concluded if there has been any wrongdoing by Apple.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment about the ruling or whether it plans to appeal.

The Competition Bureau is also investigating the relationship between grocery giant Loblaw Companies Ltd. and a number of its suppliers.

That probe is supposed to examine whether the grocer used "restrictive trade practices" in its dealings with its suppliers.