rubbish!
If you can't or won't fly at he min safe below cta stay on the ground, or get a clearance
I was VFR under their control at the bottom edge of their Class C airspace.
I don't know if you're rubbishing me, my flying abilities, what I said, or Nav Canada for their airspace allocation. I also don't know where you get the idea that ATC is only allowed to direct us to fly at 1500 AGL or higher. (Maybe those are your regulations in Australia?)