Here is the text message information from Sprint's website:
Note: International text messaging is charged at $0.20/message. However, text messages sent to or received from a Canadian number are charged at the same rate as domestic messages, according to your rate plan or messaging add-on.
Not exactly, you have to pay attention to wording when dealing with cell phone companies, the part you mentioned means he is text messaging from the US which is long distance but he will be roaming since he is in Canada. Text messaging while you are in Canada is free as long as it is going back to the US, if it goes to a Canadian number it is .20/message. Below is a link and the part that applies to text messages.
Pricing Information
International roaming rates in Canada are as follows*:
• Voice Calls: $0.59/minute for all calls placed and received, regardless of call destination.
• Texts: Texts received and sent to US numbers are applied towards monthly texting allowance (or $0.20/message if
no monthly plan on your account); texts received and sent to non-U.S. phone numbers will not be applied against
monthly texting allowance and are $0.20/message.
• Data Rate/Speed: $0.002/KB 1x/EVDO Data
• Special Voice Rate: $2.99/month Sprint Worldwide Voice plan offers reduced rate of $0.20/minute while roaming in
Canada; contact Sprint Worldwide Customer Care to request the discount plan.
• Special Data Rate: The international data pack includes monthly international data roaming allowance. See
sprint.com/swwdatapack for details.
http://support.sprint.com/global/pd.../Canada_SprintDevice.pdf?question_box=texting in canada&id16=texting in canada