Yea, I know what you're thinking. This guy is gonna recommend the 500D. Well have a look at this first:
Air Discussion Forums
Read the first post and then scroll down the page for some photos of a gorgeous 500D. It is a 500D fitted with lateral baggage pods which adds to the versatility of this type. You still get to use the belly hook as required and most of your passengers' baggage can be carried externally in the pods. Riding in the back seat of a 500 is not comfortable for longer than an hour and a half but flying it is as good as it gets. The Jet Ranger is not much fun to fly at all (the R44 is nicer to fly, in my limited experience) but your rear seat passengers will thank you. So the passenger issue depends on the nature of your ops.
R0t0rdr1ver is apparently a 500 pilot in the Canadian Bush so knows what he is talking about. He states that their (Great Slave Heli) customers are now demanding the AS350 over the 500D so maybe that is an indicator of what you should consider (as much as it pains me to say it). However, if you do the right thing and go for the 500, you might get a good deal in Canada!
500 Fan.