Stop no it is not. Pilots flying a 16 hour leg (2x 8hrs)..... the taxpayer subsidized education for flying produces less of a risk for a Canadian cadet pilot in school, .....
You're right, there is not an 8 hour prep time for an 8 hour flight.
But a pilot flying something like YYC-YVR-YYZ, will show up for work 60-75 minutes before departure.
Some pairings are structured with 2+ hour wait times between flights. That's just over 50% time getting paid vs. time not getting paid.
A 4 segment Alberta-BC day, with 60+ minute turn times, the crew would spend more time not getting paid than getting paid.
P.S.
What is this taxpayer funded flying education that you talk about?
If it's the military, then that is on par with what the US has.
However it's a system very few pilots use.