This Week's Round-Up: February 16, 2026

The F-35 Debate Is Really about How We Killed the Avro Arrow

The deliberate destruction of Canada’s homegrown fighter jet haunts our standoff with Washington

Canada is reviewing whether to proceed with the full purchase of eighty-eight F-35s, having paid for only the first sixteen. Alternatives are being openly discussed. Saab’s Gripen is back in the conversation. France’s Rafale lurks on the margins. And hovering above all of it is an unmistakable warning from Washington: if Canada walks away from the F-35, the United States will “fill the gaps,” even if that means American fighters flying more often in Canadian airspace and changes to NORAD itself.

That kind of pressure has a way of waking old ghosts. The Avro Arrow is the loudest one. To understand why the Arrow still matters, you have to strip away the mythology and look at what it actually was.

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Black and white photo of the exterior of a school building with police tape across the image. Red dots of blood are near the centre of the image.

What We’re Getting Wrong about the Tumbler Ridge Shootings

Blaming mental illness—or identity—lets society avoid harder truths about violence

BY CARMINE STARNINO, TRACY VAILLANCOURT

Image of a pile of $100 bills with the top of Prime Minister Mark Carney's head peeking out from behind.

Carney’s Wealth Tests the Limits of Canada’s Ethics Laws

Our conflict-of-interest rules are no match for a prime minister this financially entangled

BY TAYLOR C. NOAKES

Photograph of President Donald Trump saluting. Trump is blurry and out of focus.

Politics Has Grown Too Big for Politicians Alone

Democracy cannot survive if it sees the public as a threat, not a partner

BY PETER MACLEOD, RICHARD JOHNSON

Photo of Pierre Poilievre speaking from behind a podium with a red maple leaf on the front; only the top half of his face can be seen.

Conservatives Are Competitive. Pierre Poilievre Isn’t

Polls point to a widening gap between party strength and leader popularity

BY PHILIPPE J. FOURNIER

Photograph of Pierre Poilievre taken from behind a plant.

The Undeclared Civil War Inside Poilievre’s Conservative Party

A vocal bloc is forcing a choice between populist intensity and broader appeal

BY KYLA RONELLENFITSCH

Photo of a sign on the exterior of a building that reads "Alberta Health Services."

Alberta Knew Measles Was Harming Pregnant Patients—But Stayed Silent

Internal documents reveal health officials withheld data about the people most at risk

BY MONICA KIDD

Illustration of two blue jugs on a beige background.

The Yukon’s Most Important Piece of Infrastructure Is a Plastic Blue Jug

Hauling water is how thousands make an increasingly unaffordable North livable

BY TRINA MOYLES

Image of a figure skater on a pink background.

Skate Canada Stood Up for Trans Athletes. Will the Olympics Follow Suit?

Activists have called for FIFA and the 2028 Olympics to pull out of the United States

BY MEL WOODS

Close up photo of a hockey players face with cartoon blue tears illustrated on the sides.

End of an Era: Quebec Players Missing from Men’s Olympic Hockey

It’s a moment of collective mourning

BY TOULA DRIMONIS

A purple-toned illustration of a hockey rink and net, a blurry crowd in the arena seats.

The Sexy, Soaring, and Utterly Unstoppable Heated Rivalry

The hockey romance is the perfect lens through which to view … pretty much everything

BY VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS

Image of a red heart in the centre of a circular maze against a pink background.

I’ve Been a Therapist for 40 Years. Here’s What I Can Tell You about Love

It will force you to see yourself in ways you may not like

BY STEPHEN GROSZ

Wildfires are no longer a once-a-year emergency in Canada. With smoke and other side-effects now crossing provincial and national borders, Canadians are asking not whether this will continue, but how we respond.

Join us at The Walrus Talks Wildfires to hear from leading experts, engage with the latest research and perspectives, and explore promising solutions that can shape Canada’s response.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE WALRUS LAB IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WILSON COLLEGE OF LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AT MCMASTER UNIVERSITY

What does it take to spark real change in our communities?

Generations Ahead is a new podcast hosted by Sara Wolfe that explores the creative ideas and leadership shaping the future of Canada and beyond. The series features changemakers from classrooms, policy spaces, and grassroots movements who are tackling complex challenges and imagining what comes next.

This isn’t a typical leadership podcast. It’s about imagination, connection, and the possibilities that emerge when we approach today’s challenges with hope.

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In this episode of What Happened Next, host Nathan Whitlock is joined by author, editor, and journalist Haley Mlotek. They talk about the brief urge she had to cancel the publication of her book, No Fault: A Memoir of Romance and Divorce, and about the importance of recognizing that books are not built upon two or three moments of inspiration but upon hundreds and hundreds of small decisions.

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We’re not retreating, and you shouldn’t either. Donate today, or better yet, make a monthly commitment. It’s the best way to keep Canadian journalism growing.

— Carmine Starnino

Editor-in-Chief, The Walrus

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