http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com_controversies#Canadi...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com_controversies#Canadi...
I had assumed it was for import/distribution reasons, but I'd be interested to find out the real reason.
The Canadian site now tends to have all the books the US site has.
"The bottom line: If you are a non-Canadian who wants to open a business in Canada, you will have to immigrate to Canada or find one or more Canadians to team up with."
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/startup/f/Non-Canadians-How...
Books were the first step, and if you notice other departments have started to be available on our .ca-- I assume it's just a logistics issue before they establish a near identical system.
In some ways it's kind of sad, because I do think it will hurt the Canadian arts in the same way Canadian film and television has become second-rate American entertainment-- but the damage is done and with the way things are set up and have been established over the last 20 years, it's inescapable.