Don't let a few liberals north of the border color your perception. Not all Canadians are from Toronto or think like they do.
I agree with respecting their laws just as they should respect American laws when visiting the US. I also think they could accommodate travelers in transit to Alaska with simply tagging the locks on the firearms with a seal that is removed at the Alaska/Yukon border by a CBSA agent proving you didn't shoot up the countryside on the way.