generally, they probably don't, but in really tight markets like NY or other large cities, there is definitely a noticeable difference in pay between ivy grads and others. 

there are two issues: cost and the reach/transferability of your degree.  try to figure out where you would like to work and which degree will make that easier for you.  i think you can definitely get as far with a canadian degree as with an ivy degree, but depending on where that is, you may have to work a bit harder to get there.  how that balances against the added cost is up to you to decide.

If you're considering the move from a financial perspective, I'd say that the money you'd save doing your masters in Canada would more than offset any potential salary increase gained with a prestigious degree.

And If you're aiming to work in NY, I'd guess that U. of Toronto or McGill are well enough known and respected to get you any job for which you're qualified.

Fluffy,

I am a US citizen and I actually came to Canada for my M.Arch at University of Toronto.  Excellent education.  My friends came away with 3-4 times the student loan debt from US schools.  So far my UT degree is not hampering my career in the US......the firm I work for does progressive work, and I'm a professor at the Carnegie Mellon.  UT has a good reputation in the states.

My advice....save your money, go to UT. Use NAFTA to work in the US after graduation, and pay off your loans with US dollars.  You'll be out of debt within 10 years....or less.  Don't go Ivy league unless you plan on working in academia. 

"and pay off your loans with US dollars"

You haven't seen the exchange rate lately, have you? :)

Fluffy, I'm a CA citizen who spent better part of last decade working in the states. My degree was from UW.  During a good economy, it won't matter that your degree is not ivy. During bad times (like now) you can use any break you can get. But there are still no guarantees. Now's not a good time to get an arch job in states, even for americans.

But regardless, you'd be crazy to do ivy, unless money's not an issue. 

Best of luck!

Is UW University of Waterloo?

I just had an interview with a major firm at their Boston branch- they get a lot of their employees from Waterloo. This firm is extremely competitive, so it seems that waterloo may be a good place if your target is industry and not capital-A architecture.

Rasa, yes waterloo.

Waterloo grads are very desirable for companies familiar with them. The co-op system ensures that you have at least 2 1/2 years of internships behind you by the time you graduate. It's a major leg-up when you're just starting out. Not a big deal once your career is in full swing.

tokenAE, I wasn't aware of any waterloo people in Boston area. News to me. 

wow thanks for the advice everyone. i  didn't expect canadian architecture degrees to have such a good international reputation. i guess it will be best for me to just try for canadian m.arch since my family and i aren't particularly wealthy. has anyone had experience getting a job outside of north america with a canadian degree?

you mean apart from rusty?

in the 90's most of my classmates went overseas to work.  also the the united states.  some of us worked for starchitects.  OMA, Hopkins, Foster, Ito, etc, for whatever that is worth.

Canadian education is pretty good on average.  not sure if any school really compares to harvard or columbia, AA school, etc, but if you are ambitious enough that really won't matter.