Target will be under federal review for its lack of CanCon prior to its arrival in 2013

Before Target can land on Canadian soil next spring, the federal government has launched a review of the company’s practices to ensure that enough Canadian content will sit on the shelves. Instigated by Heritage Minister James Moore, the review, under the Investment Canada Act, focuses on Target’s future book, DVD, music and magazine offerings. The act “requires foreign investment in the...book industry to be of net cultural benefit to Canada,” says Department of Canadian Heritage spokesman James Maunder. It’s not the first time Moore has ordered an Investment Canada Act review—in 2010, the department ordered a review of big-time book seller Amazon’s proposal to set up a warehouse in Canada. The move was okayed, with conditions that Amazon invest more than $20 million, including $1.5 million for cultural events and awards, promoting Canadian-authored books abroad. Target plans to open between 125 and 135 Canadian stores, after a deal brokered with the Hudson’s Bay Company saw the retail giant purchase former Zellers locations. The American company—which employs more than 355,500 people in 1,763 stores—is 109 years old, with revenues of more than $67 billion (U.S.) last fiscal year—Walmart is the only larger discount retailer in North America. All we can say is we’ll welcome another place to buy a copy of Margaret Atwood’s latest release, Degrassi DVDs, Blue Rodeo CDs and Chatelaine all under one roof.