<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated statement of earnings, consolidated balance sheet and consolidated
statement of cash flows included in the Company's Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ended November 2, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> CANADIAN DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-04-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-02-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                 0.7204
<CASH>                                         287,555
<SECURITIES>                                    29,960
<RECEIVABLES>                                  438,926
<ALLOWANCES>                                    12,167
<INVENTORY>                                    212,910
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,056,666
<PP&E>                                         749,847
<DEPRECIATION>                                 380,391
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,703,621
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          278,875
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       446,702
<OTHER-SE>                                     911,197
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,703,621
<SALES>                                        432,169
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               432,169
<CGS>                                          159,801
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  349,372
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,957
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 207
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 82,425
<INCOME-TAX>                                    24,324
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             57,993
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    57,993
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.32