I would advise against buying a new anything as a starter. I suggest picking up a good used axe from one of the many shops in your area. I used to live in Ottawa, so I know you have access to at least three good stores that specialise in used equipment, plus the 'used' sections of several more. I can recommend Used Sound, on Preston Street, and Songbird, on Gladstone Avenue near Bank Street, in particular.

I bought a Yamaha RBX 350 on eBay for $150 Canadian, and it turned out to be a wonderful instrument. I happen to think you can't go wrong with a Yamaha, which is why I was willing buy before I tried. Any used axe is going to represent better value for your money than a new one, and you aren't going to commit a pile of coin to something you may not decide to stick with.

Basses are trickier to build. The necks are longer, and even a 4-string has a lot of tension on it. I'd have a bit more faith in a used bass, simply because it has already had time for any problems to show up. If it's good after someone else has played it for a while, it's likely to be good for as long as you own it.

... a 'starter' Gibson Les Paul??? That's an oxymoron!