Hi all,
Im an Aussie living in Canada (vancouver), and I just did a float rating - guess that makes me qualified to answer this on all fronts!!!
I did my float rating for 7 hours at $200 an hour on a Luscombe. Another school nearby charges 275 hour in the C180 - plus usual ground school, licence fees etc etc on top. I beleive their is a beaver nearby you can get for between 600-700hr for training.
Float flying here in Vancouver is huge - it must be the mecca for float pilots. Every day I think something like 150-200 float planes take off and land in Vancouver Harbour. Throw in all the other sea ports around the coast and every second plane you see has pontoons.
PM for more info - if anyone wants the $200 deal for a float rating I can hook you up with this guy. You wont get any other charges on top (such as 14% taxes which is normal) and it is a great fun little plane to fly. You wont find cheaper in BC.