It hasn't been my recent experience that it "is just not accepted very much in Canada". Almost everywhere has in my use the last month or so. Only a couple have not accepted AMEX (Zehrs/Loblaws and UPS store) so far. I know there are more, but it is probably something over 80% acceptance at the places I am likely to spend many $.
my experience differs. there is a huge number of retailers refusing to accept Amex. Cant blame them the as a business owner I have the capability to accept it but I discourage my customers from using it as the cost is almost double what it costs to accept Visa/MC.
Its a huge disappointment that SPG doe not realize that Amex is not so widely accepted in Canada. the market in the US and Canada is so different in that aspect.
in addition most people who are FF (which are usually the same as SPG members) travel outside of north America where its not accepted at all.
I cant understand what their thinking is on this? even aeroplan which are partners with amex but still have the cibc visa. I wonder if there contract with amex would allow a similar think like partnering with an other bank so we could have a SPG MC or Visa? even if its at a lesser value (like $2 for 1 spg point) I would still go with a MC/Visa over Amex.