I guess you never had the chance to serve with Canadian soldiers.
Actually I did. Frequently. I was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington from 1980-84. We were always holding joint exercises with them. Good troops. But like the British soldiers I have served with: 1st SAS, 1st Para and 3rd Royal Anglian PLUS the Ghurkas -- the Canadians and the British soldiers do NOT reflect the attitude of the general population and as far as the British go, their army seems to be universally scorned by the general public. I got the impression that it was much the same with the Canadians.
One thing I can say about both groups: Them boys can DRINK! Many's the night we'd close the Ft Lewis Officer's Club having had a liquid dinner composed mostly of various beers, scotches, bourbons and some vodka thrown in for good measure. In fact that was where I got my first introduction to the vodka drink called a Kamakazi. The USAF Officer's Club at McChord AFB called this drink a SPIN, CRASH & BURN. The Canadians were always kind enough to bring along some MOLSON or LABATTS beer that was 12% instead of the military mandated 3.2% We always had a good time and I respect the military greatly. But the majority of Canadians? I put most of them (those that aren't freepers) in the same light that I hold the residents of Berkley, California.