Target to open 23 more stores, including its first in Que. and N.S.

People begin to lineup outside for Target’s grand opening in Milton, Ont., Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Discount retailer Target will open 23 more stores in Canada by the middle of next month, including its first stores in Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Sixteen of the new locations are in Quebec, three in Nova Scotia and four in the Ottawa area, Target said in a release Friday.

The company said 14 of the new stores will open Sept. 17 and the remaining nine on Oct. 18.

"We look forward to opening our first stores in Quebec and Nova Scotia as we carry out an unprecedented retail expansion covering all 10 provinces across Canada this year," said Tony Fisher, president of Target Canada.

"Quebec, Nova Scotia and Ontario offer a variety of culturally diverse markets and we look forward to serving our new guests and engaging with these great communities," Fisher said.

Target currently has 68 stores open across Canada with plans to open a total of 124 locations by the end of 2013.

Forum Research recently found that only 27 per cent of those polled indicated they were "very satisfied" with their experience at Target -- which began opening its first Canadian stores in March.

Target has said that the company must now focus on driving sales in categories like health-care, food, beauty and paper, where traffic is slower. The company has also said it's working to adjust inventory and in-store staffing to match the pace of sales in each of its locations.