The damage to Vancouver, Seattle and Portland will be significantly higher from the earthquake itself due to the lack of bombardment (and subsequent rebuilding) in WW2, so that the building codes for many older buildings aren't up to snuff. Plus those three cities will be closer to the epicenter than Tokyo was. As far as the Tsunami goes, the damage won't be as great simply because the coast isn't as populated. I think the largest town is 9,000 people. Though on the other hand, there will be less time between the quake and the tsunami.

The article asserts that major earthquakes cluster around the edges of plates, but doesn't give references. Yes, major earthquakes cluster in time, but this isn't suprising. Any set of rare events will see clustering in time. It'd be a surprise if it weren't. It doesn't need a cause. Second, the Christchurch earthquake wasn't anything exception as far as strength, and it wasn't even located on the subduction zone, but another unknown fault 100km inland. What made that earthquake exceptional was that it was very shallow and was directly under the city. It wasn't even that strong of an earthquake. The Nisqually quake in Washington state 10 years ago was 0.5 magintudes stronger, but was very deep, which is why it didn't do nearly the damage that it could have, considering it was of the same magnitude of the Loma Prieta quake. And to predict that the San Andreas is next isn't anything special either. The southern part of the San Andreas is well overdue for a large quake. It could happen tomorrow, but it wouldn't have anything to do with the Chille or Japan quakes. Third, what geologists are claiming that these quakes are connected anyway? The Newsweek doesn't quote any, and the journalist is not a seismologist.

If by 'Canucks' you're starting to include people in Washington, Oregon and northern California, then yes.

You might end up with this: http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Wind-Kevin-J-Anderson/dp/0312857608

Cycle 23 bottomed out in 2008. We're now into cycle 24. That said, Cycle 24 is following fairly closely the Dalton minimum of the early 1800s.