"It's like an imperial presidency in the USA. The Canadian prime minister is just one of many MPs, the one who has been chosen to lead his party. He's still, however, just an MP. He has to get elected in his local riding, just like any other MP. His position, accordingly, is intrinsically more humble than the position of president is in the USA." Little Hawk

May I suggest that a primary reason that US citizens 'fixate' more on their presidents than Canadians do on their prime ministers is that we, in the US, know that we are stuck with him for a period of time. In Canada, the PM may find himself out the door on a much less predictable timeline.

I have read that human nature reports itself as more content with a known measure than with unpredictability.

"It's known as 'hope impedes adaptation'. In other words, if you're stuck with something, you learn to live with it. And the sooner you learn to live with it, the happier you will be."

Why We Make Mistakes
Joseph T. Hallinan
Chapter 12