The basic test in canada prepares as much as necesary, the holder of the
license for HF operation.
It used to be that you could hold a basic class license, and get your 5 word
per minute cw requirement and operate all HF bands.
Therefore, the test includes categories dealing with HF regulations,
operating procedure and theory dealing with freqs below 30 MHZ.
So, here at least, the test was not designed around learning cw, but around
knowing all that was necesary to operate ham radio from 1.8 all the way up.
This differs from the US classes of license because of the existance of the
tech class license.
Here, when you take the basic, your ready to operate, and now with the code
no longer being manditory, its still the same as it always was, except now
there are more operators on HF who hadn't got around to learning cw, or who
weren't able to.
Also, now with the more stringent criteria, that of passing with 80 percent
or better, it makes sure licensees do indeed have a good working knoledge of
all aspects of ham radio that industry canada deems necesary.
So, in many respects, it is better now then before, since before, you could
pass with a 60 percent, get your 5 WPM code and get on HF, and now you must
demonstrate a more indepth knoledge to obtain the same result regardless of
the code test.
Also, the advanced class license requirement prevents basic license
operators from getting into issues with high power and poorly constructed
home brew equipment.
To repare, modify and build your own transmitting equipment below 1.2GHZ,
and to run more then 560watts PEP, you must hold an advanced class license.
The advanced class license would be similar to the extra class in the US,
but again, now, without the requirement of the code test.
 So, i feel that with only 2 classes of license in canada, one fairly well
rounded and with all the necesary theoretical aspects, and the next class
very high level, it aleviates some of the issues that have been brought up
throughout this discussion.
And no, they're not terribly easy, but if you put your mind to it and study,
its quite accomplishable.

I wonder if that gives enough of a perspective?
73
Colin, CF6BKX