Yeah it's the same here. For instance, in the Physics and Astronomy graduate program at the University of Victoria, they give you something like 23,000 a year at the PhD level. pretty sweet. That's in addition to all the opportunities you get in return: being able to teach, research, access to all the top facilities, etc. I know that none of the arts or humanities have nearly that amount of incentive, sadly.
Sometimes psychotic: I love your deviant art profile. I have one as well but have yet to post on it.