Don't mean to argue with you Stu but........
That's just not true...!!!!!
I am not a PR or a citizen and I have a monthly deal with Rogers. All they need is an address to bill and a credit card (doesn't even have to be a Canadian credit card, I got it with my UK Barclay Card). I have had my mobile phone here since October 2005.
I didn't try every service provider, I just went to Rogers. It took me less than 10 minutes to get set up. It might be different for other networks but Rogers was easy.