Google Wallet not working is completely on Google/the issuing bank. That is entirely a software limitation. If you try using the NFC on the phone and it tells you it's not available internationally, then there's clearly no hardware incompatibility, it's just Google not supporting international transactions.
Apple Pay not rolling out is also, similarly, because Apple is not ready to roll out in Canada, it's entirely software-based. I had my iPhone region set to Canada (I guess I never switched when I moved down) and I couldn't access the settings. Once I switched to US, bam, there it was. There have already been people who confirmed[1] that Apple Pay works perfectly fine in Canada.
NFC transactions are standardized, there is no "hardware won't work" because the entire point of the standard is that it will work. The incompatibilities are completely arbitrary, it's the respective companies not wanting to expand to Canada yet and using software to disable or limit the transactions based on transaction location.
[1]: http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/how-to-use-apple-pay-in-canada...