Following a review by the Canadian government to see whether Target's "cultural" sales contain enough Canadian content, the Minnesota-based retailer Friday was given an OK to open stores in the country. With the approval, Target plans to open at least 125 stores in Canada starting next March.

Arkansas-based Walmart has opened its first of 39 former Zeller's stores in Canada that the company acquired from its Minneapolis-based retail rival last year, Retailing Today reports. Target is working on plans to launch its first Canadian stores next spring.

The group gathered on Wednesday to deliver a petition to Target executives, asking them to respect the seniority and collective bargaining rights of Zellers workers, Toronto Star reports. Thousands of unionized employees are being laid off and forced to reapply as the Minneapolis-based retail chain takes over the leases of Zellers stores across Canada.

The Minneapolis-based discount giant is firming up plans to enter its first market outside the United States. Target has released a list of 125 store locations in Canada that will open starting next spring. Its first 24 stores are all in Ontario. Later this year, Target will announce additional locations that will open in 2014.

The Minneapolis-based company plans to hire up to 200 people at each Canadian location. Target is getting ready to open more than 120 stores in Canada next year, with the first 12 in Quebec.