So, Canadian Smarties are like M&Ms?

Only "like" in the sense that they are "candy coated chocolates". There's something different about the taste. European Smarties are the same as Canadian ones - I remember an Italian Smarties song about "una pioggia di Smarties" = "a shower of Smarties". Mmmm.

For other US-Canada differences (I know this is a YARTlink but it's a short one) see: http://www.icomm.ca/emily/how.html