You can send your credentials to Comparative Education Service, University in Toronto, in order to be evaluated. I think PhDs are usually recognized, but some of my friends encountered some problems with MSc and MA degrees.
http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/ces/
Also the World Education Service offers the preliminary canadian equivalency of your credentials for some small fee
http://www.wes.org/ca/evaluations/preliminary.asp
And yes, Canadian employees do love Canadian education and experience...