I think it was Kim Campbell's government that fell in less than a year (six months?), Ebbie. She was the first and only woman PM we've ever had.

I think in Canada we kinda feel it's a good thing to have the politicians in Ottawa for at least pert of the year because it gets them out of the provinces and territories.

Basically, a sex scandal in Canada lasts for tops one week. After that people write letters to editors and sorta say, "Shut up, already!" We are somewhat resigned to our politicians taking a little vig--but if it stays under a few ercent we tend not to complain. We too are thankful we don't get all the government we pay for. Once the election is over, we tend to forget about Ottawa until they do something outrageous. At least that's the way I see it.

All it takes i a major bill to be defeated in the House (of Commons) and the sitting government is thereby deemed to be unviable. So, we can have governments in power for five years, but then they MUST call an election. because it is the incumbents who call the election, they will choose a time that is adventageous to them perhaps due to folks being away on the construction hollidays--typically the last two weeks of July. Or maybe elderly people who would have great difficulty getting to a polling station due to bad winter weather, etc.

The system seems to work well. We end up with people voted in and others voted out. And income tax, the temporary measure brought in in 1917 to help fund the war, is still with us.