Amazon has announced that both the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite are available to Canadian customers beginning today. The basic model starts at CDN$89 while the company's front-lit e-reader is priced at CDN$139 with the 3G-enabled configuration running CDN$199. Shoppers can of course buy the devices from Amazon.ca, but they're also available at retailers including Staples, The Source, and Shoppers Drug Mart

Canadians have had to endure a significant delay in getting their hands on Amazon's latest Kindles — even as the devices were released internationally in the UK, Japan, and elsewhere. But now they're finally available for those who've been waiting, and shoppers up north will likely avoid the severe stock shortages US buyers dealt with last year. As you'd expect, Amazon has also opened up access to the Kindle Store for the newly-launched hardware. Unfortunately there's no news regarding availability of Amazon's Kindle Fire / Fire HD lineup, so it seems Canadian consumers will need to pursue other options when it comes to tablets