The last couple of times I've renewed my Canadian passport, I figure they must be bored stiff with nothing to do, because I usually would get it back in 1-2 weeks by Fedex next day air. Glad that my higher fee from renewing outside the US is going to good use! But I always renew my passport between 9-12 months to expiry just as a rule.

Thankfully Canada recently, a guess a couple years ago now, joined the rest of the western world, moving to 10 year validities as opposed to 5.