one reason grades drive admission

is because Canada has less spots at universities than south of the border. If there are only 65 universities in canda (or somehwere around that many) and an increasing number want to attend, the grades become the gatekeeper to attendance. Does this mean the school is 'better'? Not necessarily, just hard to get into because many want to attend and there are limited spots. Like anything else, when demand is high, entrance standards are higher and so on. Are there schools in Ontario that will accept 70's? Sure there are, but there are less of them and not everyone wants to attend there. Every school, no matter it's entrance standards is good for someone as it offers the right 'fit', program size, whatever that appeals to the kids who choose to go there. The U.S. offers a much wider choice of schools and additionally much smaller classes, because there are many more schools to choose from.