commercial flying Canada
I can't speak for the situation in Canada directly ( and I'd be surprised if it were different up there ), but here in the USA, there is a very strong preference by the airlines for ex-military pilots. I'm NOT fairly new to aviation and after 35+ years of airline work at three airlines, I can tell you the airline flt ops and hiring game is designed and operated by ex-military pilots. We can run this debate till the cows come home, but the fact is ( in the USA ) that no matter how much time you have, or how much you know, you'll be seen as a grudging 2nd choice in the employment office if you're NOT a military pilot. Good luck to you both...and I hope I'm wrong about the situation up there.