Pete,
My Canadian aviation medical experience is very different from yours. I had quadruple bypass surgery in June, and I'm now in better health than I've been in years. I still need one more minor medical test to pass in 10 days, but Transport Canada has already given me the verbal ok to fly. TC wanted to see a good treadmill stress test, plus a "Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy" test. They phoned Monday afternoon and said I was good to go for my Cat-3. We don't have a BasicMed here.
Every two years we have to see doctor that specializes in aviation medicine. That test is minor, and that's the last test I need before the signature..