The expansion follows the retailer's acquisition of 39 Zellers stores last year. Most of those will be expanded or remodelled, and there will be some new stores built. In all, Walmart Canada has 73 projects it plans to complete by year-end.

The company said it has already hired 900 people in 2012 and will create 3,100 more positions, including sales people, store managers and pharmacy staff. The company said it will have 94,000 employees in this country by the end of January.

The retailer will open 47 hiring centres across the country to recruit "associates." More information is available at walmartcanada.ca/careers.