if you actually plan to use the card mostly in Canada, there is a CA version of the SPG AMEX (https://www.americanexpress.com/ca/e...d-credit-card/)

If you look at the list of airlines you can transfer your points into (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...tner_list.html), there are a few Asian airlines which may interest you, if you will do some regional travel. Remember there is a bonus of 5K miles for a single 20K mile transfer into airline programs.

there seems to be a $120 annual fee for the CA SPG AMEX w/20K points initial signup offer. also, "As an added benefit of being a Cardmember, you can always earn more Starpoints by referring a friend, for each approved referral you could earn 10,000 Starpoints"

balance the pros and cons!