I don't think the Canadian version of the carb is legal in IT in SCCA, IMHO. However, if the jets from said carb fit, they might be worth swapping to get a slightly richer mixure.
If you are just starting out, stick with the stock carb for now. You want to focus on seat time, seat time, seat time! After you get some seat time, you can deal with the finicky nature of the alternate carbs to your hearts content. Yes you will get more power with an alternate carb. The stock carb works great in the rain where you want drivability.
You can strip all the pollution control crap, remove all the choke linkages, plates, etc. and it will help the carb breathe a little bit better. Take off that restrictive metal screen. Keep the stock air filter housing with stock cold air intake since it pulls in air from the coldest source. Block off the hot air riser duct.
Run a K&N filter for an '83. It is slightly taller than the '84 and later. Remover the rubber seal from the air filter and the filter will fit with a slight gap. The only problem with the modified carb is that the engine can be a little bit cold blooded if it is cold in the mornings. Once warmed up, the car will run fine.