The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that the Competition Bureau is widening its probe on Empire for its use of property controls across Canada. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that on Monday the bureau received a new Federal Court order permitting access to company records and testimonies for its investigation. This order allows the bureau to gather more information nationally about how Empire negotiates property controls and their effects on competition. The bureau said the investigation is ongoing and there is no conclusion of wrongdoing. Property controls in leases limit how real estate can be used by rivals. A property control clause can prevent competitors from entering an old store location if a grocery store moves nearby. It may also restrict other stores from selling similar products. The bureau began investigating various grocers for their use of property control in 2024. The probe came after it released a report on competition in the grocery sector that described property controls as a tool that retailers may be using to curb competition. In 2024, an investigation was launched into Loblaw for including clauses in lease agreements that hinder competition in the grocery market.