A firm pre-approval from a lender, not just a pre-qualification, is the strongest lever, because it lets you shorten the financing condition to a few business days for final underwriting sign-off instead of leaving it open-ended for weeks. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada notes that pre-approval and final approval are different steps, and a seller's agent can usually tell the difference from the paperwork you provide.
A larger deposit signals seriousness without touching financing at all, and pairing it with a short, specific condition period, confirming with your lender within 3 business days rather than leaving it open, shows the seller you have already done the legwork. Some buyers also offer to share the appraisal or inspection findings with the seller if the deal falls through, which costs nothing and lowers the seller's perceived risk.
Waiving a financing condition entirely is a real risk if the mortgage falls through after possession, since backing out at that point can mean losing your deposit and facing a claim for damages. A shorter, well-supported condition protects you nearly as well as no condition at all without exposing you to that risk. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.