They're not strict, it's a recommendation.
"SSHRC strongly suggests [...]"
"You may work as a research assistant (receiving an hourly wage)."
http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/using-utiliser/guide-A/regulations-reglements-eng.aspx
Mine were consistent to some extent but it just shows the randomness involved and the importance of uncontrollable factors such as the members composing the juries and their preferences.
Fellowships are a lottery imo.
I think they mention somewhere in the guidelines that they subtract 12 months from the calculations in those cases. Meaning they evaluated you as if you were in your second and not third year.
I wouldn't hold my breath but you might get bumped to an A during the summer. I know of somebody with barely a few decimals over you with an A (same subcommittee, same field).
If a few (?) people downgrade from A to B to go international that is.
I wouldn't verse into dichotomous interpretations. I'm aware of at least one cgs-d recipient whose proposal was extremely weak but had one publication.