#ICYMI Is the Honeymoon Over for Carney?

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

This week from The Walrus:

Bill C‐5 Was a Swift Victory for Carney. Now Comes the Hard Part

The prime minister could be in for a surprise when it comes to the grinding speed of governing

BY DAVID MOSCROP

A cut out of Mark Carney facing parliament with protestors holding 'Kill Bill C5' behind him.

Carney is not a Liberal in the way Trudeau was. He’s an elite, but he had a long and notable career before entering electoral politics. He has international stature independent of the party brand. He’s also new. He came in and managed to save the party from electoral oblivion—and many in his caucus owe their jobs to him. This gives him leeway to jettison unpopular positions and course‐correct without remorse. He’s a pattern breaker. And one pattern he’s keen to break is the political cycle of disillusionment, though he isn’t the first to claim the mantle. Carney and his team seem to be betting that goodwill will stem from competence rather than charisma—swapping “sunny ways” with “plan versus slogan.” He’s also attempting to cash out that goodwill fast, signalling he won’t let idealism get bogged down in bureaucracy and endless box checking. He wants to prove that this time, Ottawa can actually get stuff done.

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François Legault struggling to keep his head above water.

Legault Just Keeps Sinking in the Polls

Every trend line for the Quebec premier is headed in the same direction: down

BY PHILIPPE J. FOURNIER

The “Buy Canadian” Movement Goes Almost as Far Back as Confederation

Ads, images, and ephemera from the country’s many attempts to assert itself

BY ARTHUR DENNYSON HAMDANI

Photo shows rows of books in a library with a bleak light shining from the ceiling and a big crack in the wall in the background.

Canada’s Archives Are in Trouble—and So Is Its History

Years‐long delays, archaic privacy laws, and chronic underfunding are threatening our national memory

BY MARK BOURRIE

A photo illustration of the Canadian flag. The traditionally red parts are made up of orange Cheezies.

Are Hawkins Cheezies the Snack Food of Canadian Sovereignty?

A salty ode to the cheddar‐dusted beacon of “Buy Canadian”

BY SIMON THIBAULT

Photo of Gaspereau Press co-founder Andrew Steeves seated at his desk in his office, legs crossed, with a wall of books and binders behind him and a desk and printing equipment on either side of him.

Small Press, Big Machines, and the Last Run of Canada’s Most Stubborn Publisher

From its shop in Nova Scotia, Gaspereau defied the industry for three decades

BY THEA LIM

Today's Quiz Question

Mark Carney’s challenges as prime minister aren’t just about legislation but turning Canada’s optimism into trust. So far, he’s earned a high approval rating from Canadians, but The Walrus contributing writer David Moscrop says there are already indications that his government is struggling. What does Moscrop cite as the first indicator of a potentially bumpy road ahead?

Yes, I know the answer

A black and white photo showing the writer Mavis Gallant working at a typewriter.

“A Wonderful Country”: A Mavis Gallant Story Rediscovered

Earlier this year, we celebrated the writer’s story on a newcomer who falls in love with Canada

BY MAVIS GALLANT

A file photo of a person with a guitar bearing a huge load of other images including an amp, smartphone opened to TikTok, passport, smiling business exec, and motel sign.

The Death of the Middle‐Class Musician

It’s easier than ever to make music, and harder than ever to make a living from it

BY LUC RINALDI

A family tree comprised of question marks.

Can You Be Sued for Saying Someone Isn’t Indigenous?

Two court cases could reshape public discourse on identity, fraud, and free speech in Canada

BY MICHELLE CYCA

Photo shows a group of RCMP officers with their backs to the camera positioned outside a car at a gas station

The RCMP’s Rent‐a‐Cop Policing Led to the Worst Killing Spree in Canada

The official story of the Nova Scotia massacres doesn’t hold up

BY PAUL PALANGO

A photo of Trump, in suit and red MAGA cap, descending the Marine One helicopter as a man saltues.

Why the US Struck Iran—and What Comes Next

Trump acted. Now the world braces for Tehran’s response

BY WESLEY WARK

Photo illustration shows shots from the move Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind superimposed on the screen of a vintage TV.

When My Breakup Felt Worse than Death, I Turned to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Memories are torture. What if we could erase them?

BY MAIA WAYMAN

Celebrate Canada with Podcasts That Matter

From coast to coast, The Walrus’s Canadian podcasts cover a wide range of subjects—from history and culture to social issues and inspiring personal stories.

This Canada Day week, take a moment to connect with voices that explore the nation’s past, present, and future through stories that truly matter.

Start listening

This week on What Happened Next, Nathan Whitlock is joined by author Michelle Good. Michelle’s first book, the novel Five Little Indians, won the HarperCollins/UBC Best New Fiction Prize, the Amazon First Novel Award, the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Award, the Evergreen Award, the City of Vancouver Book of the Year Award, and even Canada Reads. Her most recent book, Truth Telling: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada, was published in 2023 by HarperCollins Canada.

Michelle and Nathan talk about her “bemusement” over becoming a successful and celebrated author in her late sixties, about the sense of responsibility and pressure that comes with her new high‐profile status, and about how, despite all the awards and accolades, the process of writing the follow‐up to Five Little Indians has been just as stressful and full of self-doubt as it was the first time.

Listen now

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This Canada Day comes at a time when many of us are thinking about what the future might hold for the country. The Walrus has always looked at answering the bigger, national questions—but we are increasingly looking at how the urgent topics of the day are playing out on a community level, whether you are a newcomer in Montreal, an elder in the Yukon, or a multi‐generational Maritimer. This range of perspectives helps create a stronger foundation for understanding who we are from coast to coast to coast.

If you enjoy fact‐based, homegrown, and independent journalism at The Walrus, please make a contribution today. Your support helps our small and dedicated team who believe in starting Canada’s most compelling conversations.

Thank you for your support.

Monika Warzecha
Digital Editor, The Walrus

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