+1 about the CPP.
The Canadian equivalent to the 401k, specifically, is the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). A few different rules, but very similar. Some Canadian employers offer group plans, and employer contributions, but neither is mandatory.
I wonder if your hubby is on contract, rather than "employed by". Contract workers are entitled to almost no benefits, including to Canadians/people living in Canada. Most of my work has been contract, for large and small companies alike, so I've had no CPP deductions, no RRSP arrangements, no Employment Insurance, no maternity leave/coverage (had to work right up to and from the birth), no group health insurance, etc.
Contract usually pays higher because we need to be able to fund this kind of stuff -or equivalents to these, like personal savings accounts for living between contracts- on our own. That should definitely be a point of negotiation, especially considering the health insurance premiums you face in the US. (In BC, Canada, we pay premiums for the "free", limited provincial program, and then additional premiums for further health coverage if we want that too. Some employers offer group plans, and sometimes coverage of premiums, on the latter.)
I wonder if there's a way you guys can research the typical contract rates for his type of work/availability/hours, and go in to negotiations with that. Maybe ads on Monster.ca for similar?