IMO a 357 is a rather poor choice for the intent of thwarting a bear attack irrespective of how hot you load it. If the OP is incapable of taking handgun ammo to Canada then that pretty much rules out the 44 mag and the 357. I don't have a clue what your trying to show with that very old canned hunt clip although it wouldn't suprise me if Brian Pearce could spin a real good tale about the great hunt.
It's not like you have to carry a 700 H&H to do a bit better in stopping power than a 357.
