Canada's post-Banshee options depended on keeping a carrier

Would the A-4 Skyhawk have made sense as a Canadian replacement for the F2H Banshee if Canada had kept its carrier?

Yes. The Skyhawk path probably made sense, while the Phantom was attractive only if the carrier system could accommodate it.

The A-4 Skyhawk would probably have been a sensible replacement for Canada's F2H Banshee if the carrier had remained in service. A Phantom option is personally preferred, provided Canada could have made the larger and more demanding aircraft work. Either choice depended on deck size, arresting equipment, and support systems. The aircraft decision therefore cannot be separated from the political decision to retain a carrier.