Peace, order and rocky government

After calling Canada "cool" in 2003, the Economist has a less favourable article about Canada, due to "three very real threats to Canada's welfare that require energetic attention: the "threatening weather systems'' of western alienation, Quebec separatism and deteriorating U.S. relations." (from the CanWest Global article about the article). An interesting viewpoint and summary of current Canadian politics, I thought...

This part actually represents part of my concern and dilemma in terms of Canadian politics right now:

But the affair points to a deeper malaise in Canada's politics. It is worrying that the Conservatives are considered unable to win even when the Liberals are laid low by scandal. Long periods of domination by a single party are not good for the health of any democracy, let alone one in which power at the national level is highly centralised. Canada's prime minister enjoys remarkable powers of patronage: it was, for example, Mr Martin who appointed Canada's glamorous new governor-general. He also controls appointments to the Supreme Court and the Senate. Such a system would matter less if there were more frequent rotation in government. Why is there so little?