For Canada, IF you're going to discount single engined ops and go down the twin route instead, the surely Super Hornet makes more sense.
It's cheaper than a Rafale for a start, the RCAF already has support arrangements and relationships with Boeing, US Navy (PMA-265), GE, Raytheon etc for its CF-18 systems, and the jet would be much easier for CF-18 flight and maintenance folks to convert to.
Further, it already has AESA and a near fully-defined spiral upgrade path, plus other notional enhancements coming down the line.
No brainer really...