Why the Russian Mistrals would not suit Canada

Could Canada have made good use of the Mistral-class ships that Russia ordered and France later sold to Egypt?

Not easily. Their Russian systems and relatively small Mediterranean-oriented hulls were a poor match for Canadian integration and harsh northern seas.

Canada could have used the ships in principle but would have faced a difficult Russian-to-Western technology integration. The Mistral is a capable design for the Mediterranean and limited French expeditionary operations. Canadian service would demand sustained work in the North Atlantic, high north, and northern Pacific, where a larger hull would be preferable. Something around Canberra-class scale, or slightly larger, would be a better starting point for those sea conditions.