I got a reference from a professor who gave me a B+ that was stronger than the one i got from a professor who gave me an A (in a more difficult course).
A few things, my man:
-I don't think @JusticeLordDenning was making the sort of value judgement you read in to that. Asking how students fare outside the formal recruit is not saying that the formal recruit jobs are necessarily the best jobs out there.
-Both the DOJ and provincial Crown prosecution service participate in the formal recruit, so that's a poor example to illustrate your point. "Jobs in the recruit" isn't synonymous with "BigLaw."
-I highly doubt that there is a huge difference in the level of interest in the formal recruit between Canadian law schools in general, and especially between Queens and Western as a specific example.
And just to be clear, I'd be the last person to boost BigLaw or claim that working at a smaller firm outside the GTA is somehow inferior.
Some of this is might be based on what I consider to be a false assumption: That law students who secure jobs at big firms in an urban area have succeeded while those who do not have failed. For example, a Queens student may have the career goal of securing a foot in the door with the Crown in a rural area and a Western student may want to get into business law with a small firm in a medium sized city.
Having those two years working with members of Parliament is an added bonus, the significance of which is proportional to the nature of your role.
You should get one or two acceptances from those law schools provided you keep your grades up.
You seem like the type of person who will make the right decision about this. Good luck!