Drake takes popularity over any of the other artists in the top 10. At any point in their careers, none of the other artists in this list were ever considered the most popular in their respective sub-genres (maybe Joni in Folk for a very brief period in the 1970's). Arguably, this can be said about Drake with regards to Rap. I'd say his only week spot would be influence seeing how he's only been recording for a few years. As for acclaim, I think the reception of his first 2 albums speaks for itself.

French Canadian artists who are very huge in the French speaking world (France, Belgium etc..)

I've actually been a member of this site since 2008 and have edited the lists for years 1947-49. I'm not sure whose criteria you're referring to, seeing as how each editor creates a variation of their own. I used influence, popularity, and acclaim.

Maybe I should have elaborated a bit more on my criteria. "artists must have been born in Canada. In the case of groups or duos, they must have been formed in Canada" What I meant was that in the case of individual artists, they must have been born in Canada. However, when it comes to groups, I eased the criteria a bit, requiring only that they be formed in Canada.

That's a decent list but I certainly have some issues with it. Would you agree with the Editor placing Tom Cohrane ahead of Nickelback, or the Dudes and the 4 Dukes being placed ahead of Jack Scott?

That's my main sticking point, he's a ridiculously new artist (and the "most popular in their respective sub-genres" thing is a bit subjective. Of course, I know little about non-alternative hip hop) who hasn't even recorded for 5 years. I'd wait quite a bit before bumping him up that high.

Didn't know you'd been around since 2008. The New Forum has kinda skewed who's a veteran and who's brand new.

One of the problems I have with these list is that "Greatest" keeps being applied to very popular but critically derided artists. Nickelback is one of the most popular rock bands in the world and possibly even one of the best selling rock artists of the past 20 years. However, critics dislike them and so do a large portion of rock fans. I think that the good popularity but bad acclaim artists should be a little lower than usual for best-selling artists on these lists. #13 sounds about right, I suppose.

By the way, here's some suggestions for your list:
54-40
Broken Social Scene
Metric

Aside from Drake being in the Top 10, most of the other positions look right.

You've been looking at the wrong list. The version that is currently discussed can be found here.

Adam, are you Canadian and therefore judging the list from a Canadian point of view (popularity in Canada, influence on Canadian rock music, etc.)? That would explain why a lot of artists are on the list that few people outside Canada have ever heard of. I agree with piper that this is a good list overall.

does anyone feel that the band could be number two rather than rush?

It can be said that Drake is the most popular artist in rap? Well, anything can be said, but that's kind of nuts. His first album was a big hit, but it wasn't an earth-shattering blockbuster or anything.

He certainly doesn't take popularity over, say, Bryan Adams or Heart. Perhaps at some point he will, but he's got a long, long way to go.

Yes, I'm from Montreal so that also gives me some perspective on the French Canadian music scene. I tried my best to equally weigh the Canadian point of view (ie Canadian chart performance, Juno Awards etc..) with an International one.

I guess the jury is unanimous on Drake lol. Thanks for the constructive comments, guys. I can see dropping him down a bit, but not by much. I understand that popularity is somewhat subjective. Many of the artists who made up the first half of my list either had solid careers around the top 40, were highly influential, or relased albums with considerable acclaim. My point was that very few them were immensely popular outside of Canada: making the covers of magazines, being a featured artist on hit singles, cameo appearances... all very subjective but important nonetheless.

I'll also make some room for Piper's suggestions.

Then I'd say, that's actually a pretty sweet list. Artists from my list you might want to consider: Sarah McLachlan, Justin Bieber, Alannah Myles, Skinny Puppy, Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, Jeff Healey, Hot Hot Heat, Caribou (aka Manitoba), Junior Boys, Jane Child, Klaatu, David Foster, The DeFranco Family, Silverstein, Jane Siberry, France Joli, Dream Warriors, Len, Mary Margaret O'Hara, NoMeansNo, Destroyer, Martha Wainwright, Jann Arden, Remy Shand, Honeymoon Suite, Motherlode, Peaches, A.C. Newman

Updated Version, using pauldrach's more expanded definition of "rock":

1 Neil Young
2 Rush
3 The Band
4 Joni Mitchell
5 Arcade Fire
6 Bryan Adams
7 Céline Dion
8 Alanis Morissette
9 Heart
10 Leonard Cohen
11 Guess Who
12 Paul Anka
13 Gordon Lightfoot
14 Nickelback
15 Avril Lavigne
16 Sarah McLachlan
17 Nelly Furtado
18 Justin Bieber
19 Drake
20 Blue Rodeo
21 Steppenwolf
22 Robert Charlebois
23 Éric Lapointe
24 Buffy Sainte-Marie
25 Barenaked Ladies
26 k. d. lang
27 Our Lady Peace
28 Tragically Hip
29 Triumph
30 Cowboy Junkies
31 Jack Scott
32 Three Days Grace
33 Ian & Sylvia
34 Wolf Parade
35 Les Cowboys Fringants
36 Sloan
37 Alannah Myles
38 Broken Social Scene
39 New Pornographers
40 Diamonds
41 Bruce Cockburn
42 Chantal Kreviazuk
43 Robbie Robertson
44 Gino Vanelli
45 Saga
46 Jane Child
47 Harmonium
48 Bachman–Turner Overdrive
49 Daniel Lanois
50 Voivod
51 Martha & The Muffins
52 Mathew Good / Mathew Good Band
53 Feist
54 April Wine
55 Loverboy
56 Tom Cochrane
57 Sum 41
58 Skip Spence
59 Kate & Anna McGarrigle
60 Ariane Moffatt
61 Lighthouse
62 Fefe Dobson
63 K-os
64 Godspeed You Black Emperor!
65 Rheostatics
66 Constantines
67 Pat Travers
68 Andy Kim
69 Corey Hart
70 Payola$
71 Jean-Pierre Ferland
72 Prism
73 Chilliwack
74 Burton Cummings
75 Kardinal Offishall
76 Rough Trade
77 Sam Roberts
78 Alexisonfire
79 Crash Test Dummies
80 Black Mountain
81 Eric's Trip
82 Ian Thomas
83 Simple Plan
84 Snow
85 Weakerthans
86 Dan Hill
87 Aldo Nova
88 Stampeders
89 Swollen Members
90 Northern Pikes
91 Pursuit of Happiness
92 Rascalz
93 Bran Van 3000
94 Billy Talent
95 Beau Marks
96 Crowbar
97 Jean Leloup
98 Ron Sexsmith
99 Teenage Head
100 FM

101 Men Without Hats
102 Poppy Family
103 Red Rider
104 DeFranco Family
105 Kings
106 Finger Eleven
107 Vincent Vallières
108 Max Webster
109 Terry Jacks
110 Irish Rovers
111 Spoons
112 Moffats
113 Trooper
114 Five Man Electrical Band
115 Sue Foley
116 Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers
117 Bells
118 Edward Bear
119 Down with Webster
120 Claude Dubois
121 Joey Gregorash
122 Gary & Dave
123 Goddo
124 Demics
125 Gob
126 Ugly Ducklings
127 Simply Saucer
128 Bobby Curtola
129 Sweeney Todd
130 Raes
131 Little Caesar & the Consuls
132 Terry Black

Totally agree with Ottawa's own Paul Anka around the top 10. The guy was one of the first true teen idols of pop/rock with numerous hits and record sales.