With the onslaught of so-called Free Trade, Canada's retail scence is becoming Americanized.  The "Free Trade" Agreement i.e. NAFTA, was never about free trade.  Rather, it was about changing Canadian laws to enable quick take-overs of Canadian institutions.  Is the CBC next?

Retailers are bracing for a year of price wars and shrinking profits as competition heats up ahead of the invasion of the sector’s 800-pound gorilla.

U.S. discount titan Target Corp. (TGT-N52.110.410.79%) will roll out about 135 stores starting in March of 2013 following its landmark $1.8-billion purchase of Zellers stores almost a year ago, a defining moment in Canadian retailing that is already beginning to shake up the industry. Incumbents are now racing to prepare for the new entrant. They’re trying to improve their operations, including lagging e-commerce sites, in a bid to shore up market share while they can – the better to withstand the onslaught of Target hype

The fight to woo customers will inevitably put pressure on retailers’ margins as they’re forced to offer discounts or spend money to dress up their stores. Wal-Mart Canada Corp., (WMT-N59.83-0.16-0.27%) the dominant discounter, is dashing to convert more of its Canadian stores to super centres with full supermarkets. It’s also planning almost 40 new outlets – also former Zellers stores – in 2012.

At the same time, Zellers will launch going-out-of-business sales before its outlets go dark for Target or Wal-Mart conversions, a move that is expected to touch off a round of price slashing in the sector.

Canadian Tire Corp. (CTC-T72.01----%) scooped up Forzani Group Ltd., the leading sporting goods retailer, last summer to bolster its business and try to prevent another big U.S. rival – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. – from landing here.

Internet site reference: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canadian-retailers-have-a-target-on-their-backs/article2283926/