As reported in The Globe and Mail, CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company of fast-food chain Carl's Jr., announced recently that it is planning to enter the Canadian restaurant market. According to the company, it will focus on urban areas in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, and plans to open new franchises in those areas within the next 18 months. In 1997, the company paid Imasco Ltd. $457 million for the Hardee's burger chain, but hopes of expanding that chain in Canada were thwarted when patent infringement issues arose between Hardee's and Canada's Harvey's chain.