Lowe’s Canada announced plans yesterday to close 34 stores across the country, including nine in Ontario, by the middle of February of 2020.

The move comes after a detailed strategic review of the company’s operations showed a number of opportunities for improvement.

Twenty-eight of the stores to be closed are under the RONA and Réno-Dépôt banners; 12 of those are located in Quebec, six are in Ontario. Lowe’s Canada acquired the Quebec hardware chain in 2016 at a cost of $3.2 billion.

In addition to the store closures, Lowe’s Canada announced that it will take further measures to simplify multiple store banners, reorganize its corporate support structures, and present more coordinated product offerings to its Canadian customers.

"While making decisions that impact our associates and their families is never easy, closing underperforming stores is a necessary step in our plan to ensure the long-term stability and growth of our Canadian business," said Tony Cioffi, Interim President of Lowe's Canada. "We are taking decisive action to build a healthy business which will provide us with the flexibility to reinvest in our future growth. This includes having a clear strategy for our banners, built on the strength of our Lowe's, RONA and Reno-Depot brands. It also means investing in our omnichannel and supply chain capabilities, our web platforms, and our existing corporate stores and affiliated dealer network. Our objective continues to be providing our Canadian customers with the right products and the best service and value across every channel, for the long term."

It is not yet known how many jobs will be lost as a result of the changes, but Lowe’s Canada has indicated that eligible employees will be given opportunities to transfer to nearby stores should they wish.

Lowe's Canada has also indicated it will continue serving customers from markets affected by the closures via other corporate and affiliated stores, and from its online offering and parcel delivery service.

A complete list of store closures is available on the Lowe's Canada website.