It’s the height of politically correct stupidity to require as much from Canadians for visits or immigration as people from countries of cultures much different from ours. Assimilating people of cultures very different from ours is more expensive in several ways.
Immigration is also being pushed too far toward pecuniary considerations (money issues, slavery, etc.) and away from immigrants who like America and want to be Americans (those married to Americans, attracted to the best of American culture, and so on). Early America didn’t favor dollars for antagonists. It favored potential great Americans.
Canadians are a significant source of Florida tourism revenue. They have been visiting Florida for many decades armed only with a driver's permit from their home province. During those many decades this practice has not apparently been a problem for constables doing a traffic stop. I cannot say the same for drivers from other nations considering the large number of official languages in the world.
There is a tourist destination in Florida that is a favourite destination for francophone Canadians (e.g Quebecois). This municipality (Hollywood FL) and the merchants in it are very welcoming of Canadian francophone tourists.
Since 9/11, the US has not considered an ordinary Canadian driver's permit to be sufficient to allow the driver entry into the US. Ontario drivers can now get an enhanced driver's permit which can be used to cross into the US in lieu of having to obtain a passport. It requires a more thorough identification process as part of the issuing process than does the ordinary driver's permit.
Issues about the right to be in the US or in Canada is a Federal matter in each country, not a State or Provincial matter as your Obama administration has loudly insisted in its dealings with Arizona. In effect, the Obama administration appears to be telling the States, Arizona in particular to keep hands off immigration enforcement.