Fox played the first season. It isnt' that the show's been inaccessable to Canadians, it's the fact that YTV is picking it up is a good sign for the future of the line.
The first season had a lot of problems. Duke was recast twice. When the first story arc comes out on DVD as Sigma Six: The Movie, many characters will have new voices.
I'd say the first season was worth watching for Cobra alone. The Dreadnoks look maniacal, all of Cobra was terrified of Cobra Commander, they were cool to watch. I couldn't wait for the Joe stuff to end to get back to more Cobra. The second season is already looking better. Lt. Stone's pretty cool and Firefly is a joy to watch. Animation style's the same, so if that's your problem with the show it will continue to be. But the dialogue, stories, and acting have improved.