There are some cards without the transaction fee... some citicards, BoA worldperks, American Express delta skymiles gold & platinum cards and some issued by chase bank ( slate, IIRC )don't charge you.... however you will still lose some money coz of the low conversion rates.
these days, almost all the banks in Canada offer 25 K points...enuf to buy a round-trip airline ticket to any destination in Canada and the continental US. it's a good deal.
recently, i got 3 new cards with those many miles and in effect three round-trip free tickets to anywhere in North America. :)