A little looking suggests [1] that the high cost of shipping to Canada was from import fees:

                     Shipping + Import Fees
    Canada            $ 35.75   $ 162.63
    United Kingdom    $ 42.60   $ 85.65
    Hungary           $ 55.72   $ 98.13
    Austria           $ 47.61   $ 96.66
    Germany           $ 42.60   $ 91.71
    France            $ 42.60   $ 95.74
    Spain             $ 47.61   $ 80.32
    Poland            $ 55.72   $ 106.44
    Switzerland       $ 47.61   $ 47.66
    Netherlands       $ 42.59   $ 91.71
    Sweden            $ 47.61   $ 117.07
    Finland           $ 47.61   $ 104.82
    India             $ 47.50   $ 125.21
    Japan             $ 42.06   $ 35.16
    Taiwan            $ 42.06   $ 71.82
    Australia         $ 47.50   $ 55.82
    Singapore         $ 42.06   $ 43.23

No idea why import fees were so high.

[1] http://forum.openhandsetdevelopers.com/android-dev-phone-1-a...

I don't even understand, what are "import fees"? Tariffs?

I keep forgetting that we don't have even remotely free trade, so absurd and economically senseless, sigh.