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Monday, March 9, 2026

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Matt Gurney

Matt Gurney is a Toronto-based journalist. He is co-editor of The Line (ReadTheLine.ca), an online magazine. He can be reached at matt@readtheline.ca.

Carney has a hard time explaining Canada’s position towards India

  • This is a classic example where the government is clearly pursuing a strategy—a reset of our relationship with India—while also trying not to provoke
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 9, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India on March 3, 2026. For the last week or two, any time the federal government has tried to explain what this country’s position towards India actually is, we haven’t come off looking great, writes Matt Gurney. Photograph courtesy of X/NarendraModi

Carney has a hard time explaining Canada’s position towards India

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 9, 2026
  • This is a classic example where the government is clearly pursuing a strategy—a reset of our relationship with India—while also trying not to provoke

Carney has a hard time explaining Canada’s position towards India

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 9, 2026
  • This is a classic example where the government is clearly pursuing a strategy—a reset of our relationship with India—while also trying not to provoke
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India on March 3, 2026. For the last week or two, any time the federal government has tried to explain what this country’s position towards India actually is, we haven’t come off looking great, writes Matt Gurney. Photograph courtesy of X/NarendraModi

Having a defence industrial strategy is good, but we’ll also need to know what to do with it

  • Canada should leverage its geographic advantage—far from Europe’s front lines—along with its close relationship with Ukraine and its willingness to invest heavily to develop
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 23, 2026
Defence Minister David McGuinty, pictured, was with Prime Minister Mark Carney when he released Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy on Feb. 17 in Montreal. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Having a defence industrial strategy is good, but we’ll also need to know what to do with it

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 23, 2026
  • Canada should leverage its geographic advantage—far from Europe’s front lines—along with its close relationship with Ukraine and its willingness to invest heavily to develop

Having a defence industrial strategy is good, but we’ll also need to know what to do with it

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 23, 2026
  • Canada should leverage its geographic advantage—far from Europe’s front lines—along with its close relationship with Ukraine and its willingness to invest heavily to develop
Defence Minister David McGuinty, pictured, was with Prime Minister Mark Carney when he released Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy on Feb. 17 in Montreal. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Eyre is right: our long-term security would be greatly enhanced by a credible, even small, Canadian nuclear force

  • So as we continue to work on conventional rearmament, it’s worth keeping an eye on this. Because if there’s a way we can do
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 9, 2026
Wayne D. Eyre, then-chief of the defence staff, front right, pictured March 7, 2023, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Eyre is right: our long-term security would be greatly enhanced by a credible, even small, Canadian nuclear force

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 9, 2026
  • So as we continue to work on conventional rearmament, it’s worth keeping an eye on this. Because if there’s a way we can do

Eyre is right: our long-term security would be greatly enhanced by a credible, even small, Canadian nuclear force

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 9, 2026
  • So as we continue to work on conventional rearmament, it’s worth keeping an eye on this. Because if there’s a way we can do
Wayne D. Eyre, then-chief of the defence staff, front right, pictured March 7, 2023, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney has thrown his hat over the wall, now what?

  • A few months ago, the PM spoke of sacrifice as Canada realigned around new priorities. The same theme popped up in a Globe and Mail story
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 26, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2026. Photograph courtesy of the World Economic Forum/Ciaran McCrickard

Carney has thrown his hat over the wall, now what?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 26, 2026
  • A few months ago, the PM spoke of sacrifice as Canada realigned around new priorities. The same theme popped up in a Globe and Mail story

Carney has thrown his hat over the wall, now what?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 26, 2026
  • A few months ago, the PM spoke of sacrifice as Canada realigned around new priorities. The same theme popped up in a Globe and Mail story
Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2026. Photograph courtesy of the World Economic Forum/Ciaran McCrickard

Problem with our feminist foreign policy was that we never really had a feminist foreign policy, we just called it that

  • Mark Carney might be a little more willing than Justin Trudeau to be judged by what he does, and not what he tells you
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | December 1, 2025
At the rate things are turning weird out there, it’s far from clear that Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured on the Hill on Nov. 17, 2025, knows what our foreign policy is going to look like under Prime Minister Mark Carney, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Problem with our feminist foreign policy was that we never really had a feminist foreign policy, we just called it that

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | December 1, 2025
  • Mark Carney might be a little more willing than Justin Trudeau to be judged by what he does, and not what he tells you

Problem with our feminist foreign policy was that we never really had a feminist foreign policy, we just called it that

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | December 1, 2025
  • Mark Carney might be a little more willing than Justin Trudeau to be judged by what he does, and not what he tells you
At the rate things are turning weird out there, it’s far from clear that Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured on the Hill on Nov. 17, 2025, knows what our foreign policy is going to look like under Prime Minister Mark Carney, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New list of major projects is good, but the hard part will be actually getting them done

  • This is a problem across Canadian society. We have become so risk averse and conflict averse that we’ve geared shockingly large percentages of our
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 17, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured on the Hill on Oct. 9, 2025, released more major projects on Nov. 13. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New list of major projects is good, but the hard part will be actually getting them done

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 17, 2025
  • This is a problem across Canadian society. We have become so risk averse and conflict averse that we’ve geared shockingly large percentages of our

New list of major projects is good, but the hard part will be actually getting them done

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 17, 2025
  • This is a problem across Canadian society. We have become so risk averse and conflict averse that we’ve geared shockingly large percentages of our
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured on the Hill on Oct. 9, 2025, released more major projects on Nov. 13. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Hoekstra is a pretty reliable barometer of what the Trump administration is thinking and feeling about Canada

  • I think a lot of what’s coming out of Pete Hoekstra’s mouth, and Trump’s White House, is kind of bonkers, to be honest. But
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 3, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, pictured on May 22, 2025, speaks bluntly and awfully plainly. Good. Let’s all make a habit of listening to him, thanking him for his time—and then believing him, and acting accordingly, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Hoekstra is a pretty reliable barometer of what the Trump administration is thinking and feeling about Canada

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 3, 2025
  • I think a lot of what’s coming out of Pete Hoekstra’s mouth, and Trump’s White House, is kind of bonkers, to be honest. But

Hoekstra is a pretty reliable barometer of what the Trump administration is thinking and feeling about Canada

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 3, 2025
  • I think a lot of what’s coming out of Pete Hoekstra’s mouth, and Trump’s White House, is kind of bonkers, to be honest. But
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, pictured on May 22, 2025, speaks bluntly and awfully plainly. Good. Let’s all make a habit of listening to him, thanking him for his time—and then believing him, and acting accordingly, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The government has never had a stronger hand with Canada Post

  • Now would be a great opportunity to do the difficult, but necessary things that are required to preserve Canada Post as an institution that
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | October 20, 2025
Government Transformation Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound holds a press conference in the National Press Theatre to provide an update on changes to Canada Post’s services on Sept. 25, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The government has never had a stronger hand with Canada Post

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | October 20, 2025
  • Now would be a great opportunity to do the difficult, but necessary things that are required to preserve Canada Post as an institution that

The government has never had a stronger hand with Canada Post

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | October 20, 2025
  • Now would be a great opportunity to do the difficult, but necessary things that are required to preserve Canada Post as an institution that
Government Transformation Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound holds a press conference in the National Press Theatre to provide an update on changes to Canada Post’s services on Sept. 25, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s promises, personal credibility will have to be matched, quickly, by tangible signs

  • It's possible that Mark Carney and Anita Anand's trips are intended to overcome, via personal presence, some of our deficits elsewhere. It could work.
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | October 6, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into Question Period on Sept. 24, 2025. It's worth remembering that Carney is a PM who is lopsidedly putting his chips down on his ties to and skill with foreign leaders, particularly Europeans. It's clearly something that he himself sees as one of his strong suits, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s promises, personal credibility will have to be matched, quickly, by tangible signs

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | October 6, 2025
  • It's possible that Mark Carney and Anita Anand's trips are intended to overcome, via personal presence, some of our deficits elsewhere. It could work.

Carney’s promises, personal credibility will have to be matched, quickly, by tangible signs

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | October 6, 2025
  • It's possible that Mark Carney and Anita Anand's trips are intended to overcome, via personal presence, some of our deficits elsewhere. It could work.
Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into Question Period on Sept. 24, 2025. It's worth remembering that Carney is a PM who is lopsidedly putting his chips down on his ties to and skill with foreign leaders, particularly Europeans. It's clearly something that he himself sees as one of his strong suits, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney should make a decision on the fighter jets, our national security depends on it

  • Canada is probably going to need an Air Force soon, and we’ve wasted 16 years already. We can’t get back that lost time, but
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 22, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured in Ottawa on Aug. 7, 2025, has enough on his plate, but absolutely needs to make a decision as soon as possible on a major purchase of the fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney should make a decision on the fighter jets, our national security depends on it

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 22, 2025
  • Canada is probably going to need an Air Force soon, and we’ve wasted 16 years already. We can’t get back that lost time, but

Carney should make a decision on the fighter jets, our national security depends on it

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 22, 2025
  • Canada is probably going to need an Air Force soon, and we’ve wasted 16 years already. We can’t get back that lost time, but
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured in Ottawa on Aug. 7, 2025, has enough on his plate, but absolutely needs to make a decision as soon as possible on a major purchase of the fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney better start going full throttle

  • Canada is now Mark Carney’s problem. He actively campaigned on it being his problem. And I’m politely asking him and his government, on behalf
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 15, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into work at the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa on Aug. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney better start going full throttle

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 15, 2025
  • Canada is now Mark Carney’s problem. He actively campaigned on it being his problem. And I’m politely asking him and his government, on behalf

Carney better start going full throttle

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 15, 2025
  • Canada is now Mark Carney’s problem. He actively campaigned on it being his problem. And I’m politely asking him and his government, on behalf
Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into work at the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa on Aug. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Clock is ticking on Liberals’ 100-day deadline to fix CRA mess

  • I'm not sure anyone ever enjoys dealing with a call centre, but some of them actually do run reasonably well. Just do what they
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 8, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that the Canada Revenue Agency has 100 days to improve its service quality. Matt Gurney writes that improving customer-service problems should be 'high on the list of the absolute simplest' issues to address. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Clock is ticking on Liberals’ 100-day deadline to fix CRA mess

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 8, 2025
  • I'm not sure anyone ever enjoys dealing with a call centre, but some of them actually do run reasonably well. Just do what they

Clock is ticking on Liberals’ 100-day deadline to fix CRA mess

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 8, 2025
  • I'm not sure anyone ever enjoys dealing with a call centre, but some of them actually do run reasonably well. Just do what they
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that the Canada Revenue Agency has 100 days to improve its service quality. Matt Gurney writes that improving customer-service problems should be 'high on the list of the absolute simplest' issues to address. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Can the opposition hold its own in a Trudeau-free Parliament?

  • The Conservative Party spent years optimizing itself to defeat Mark Carney's predecessor but the current prime minister has a very different personality; and the
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | August 25, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, will return to the House of Commons this September where he will face a different prime minister in Mark Carney, not pictured. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies leads a much smaller caucus of seven members after his party lost more than half of its MPs in the 2025 election. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Can the opposition hold its own in a Trudeau-free Parliament?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | August 25, 2025
  • The Conservative Party spent years optimizing itself to defeat Mark Carney's predecessor but the current prime minister has a very different personality; and the

Can the opposition hold its own in a Trudeau-free Parliament?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | August 25, 2025
  • The Conservative Party spent years optimizing itself to defeat Mark Carney's predecessor but the current prime minister has a very different personality; and the
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, will return to the House of Commons this September where he will face a different prime minister in Mark Carney, not pictured. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies leads a much smaller caucus of seven members after his party lost more than half of its MPs in the 2025 election. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Carney will need to prove he can actually stand up to Trump, he campaigned on it

  • The United States holds tremendous economic leverage over us. For now, Canada is protected by the existing North American trade agreement and most of
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | August 11, 2025
President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in the Oval Office. Vice President JD Vance attends. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins)
President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in the Oval Office. Vice President JD Vance attends. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins)

Carney will need to prove he can actually stand up to Trump, he campaigned on it

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | August 11, 2025
  • The United States holds tremendous economic leverage over us. For now, Canada is protected by the existing North American trade agreement and most of

Carney will need to prove he can actually stand up to Trump, he campaigned on it

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | August 11, 2025
  • The United States holds tremendous economic leverage over us. For now, Canada is protected by the existing North American trade agreement and most of
President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in the Oval Office. Vice President JD Vance attends. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins)

Carney has three more months to make his mark on Ottawa before Ottawa changes him

  • Mark Carney deserves time. He needs time in order to get up to speed, fair enough. But time is not his friend.
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | July 28, 2025
Carney
Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the West Block on July 21, 2025, ahead of a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of United States Senators. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney has three more months to make his mark on Ottawa before Ottawa changes him

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | July 28, 2025
  • Mark Carney deserves time. He needs time in order to get up to speed, fair enough. But time is not his friend.

Carney has three more months to make his mark on Ottawa before Ottawa changes him

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | July 28, 2025
  • Mark Carney deserves time. He needs time in order to get up to speed, fair enough. But time is not his friend.
Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the West Block on July 21, 2025, ahead of a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of United States Senators. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need a fix for bureaucratic delays—but is it a pipe dream?

  • The prime minister could and should spend his entire mandate trying to do this. But this is a classic example of a problem where
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | July 14, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic Leblanc, far left, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne at a press conference in the West Block on June 19, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade.

We need a fix for bureaucratic delays—but is it a pipe dream?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | July 14, 2025
  • The prime minister could and should spend his entire mandate trying to do this. But this is a classic example of a problem where

We need a fix for bureaucratic delays—but is it a pipe dream?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | July 14, 2025
  • The prime minister could and should spend his entire mandate trying to do this. But this is a classic example of a problem where
Mark Carney
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic Leblanc, far left, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne at a press conference in the West Block on June 19, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade.

Carney may have hoped for more, but he should take what he got at G7 Summit

  • Whatever problems the India reset may pose in the future, and however disappointing it may be to have not seen the G7 make any
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 23, 2025
European Council President Antonio Costa, left, Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s PM Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. PM Keir Starmer, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kananaskis, Alta., on June 16, 2025. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Carney may have hoped for more, but he should take what he got at G7 Summit

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 23, 2025
  • Whatever problems the India reset may pose in the future, and however disappointing it may be to have not seen the G7 make any

Carney may have hoped for more, but he should take what he got at G7 Summit

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 23, 2025
  • Whatever problems the India reset may pose in the future, and however disappointing it may be to have not seen the G7 make any
European Council President Antonio Costa, left, Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s PM Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. PM Keir Starmer, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kananaskis, Alta., on June 16, 2025. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Ramped-up military spending is good news, but will face challenges

  • Two per cent gets us back on track if we lived in 2014. That alone may be a hard sell, eventually, for the prime
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 16, 2025
Defence Minister David McGuinty will be in charge of more than $9-billion in additional funding for the Canadian Armed Forces this fiscal year. A June 9 announcement said that funding would go towards better pay for Canada’s soldiers, new aircraft, and repairs for existing infrastructure among other purposes. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Ramped-up military spending is good news, but will face challenges

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 16, 2025
  • Two per cent gets us back on track if we lived in 2014. That alone may be a hard sell, eventually, for the prime

Ramped-up military spending is good news, but will face challenges

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 16, 2025
  • Two per cent gets us back on track if we lived in 2014. That alone may be a hard sell, eventually, for the prime
Defence Minister David McGuinty will be in charge of more than $9-billion in additional funding for the Canadian Armed Forces this fiscal year. A June 9 announcement said that funding would go towards better pay for Canada’s soldiers, new aircraft, and repairs for existing infrastructure among other purposes. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

So are we getting high-speed trains or not?

  • Justin Trudeau promised high-speed rail at the end of his mandate. It's now an opportunity for Mark Carney How much faster can we get
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 2, 2025
Via Rail’s high-frequency trains would have been faster (and more reliable) than its current service, which was intended to be a selling point to jaded would-be riders, but wouldn't be high-speed rail, not like the Europeans have, writes Matt Gurney. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

So are we getting high-speed trains or not?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 2, 2025
  • Justin Trudeau promised high-speed rail at the end of his mandate. It's now an opportunity for Mark Carney How much faster can we get

So are we getting high-speed trains or not?

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | June 2, 2025
  • Justin Trudeau promised high-speed rail at the end of his mandate. It's now an opportunity for Mark Carney How much faster can we get
Via Rail’s high-frequency trains would have been faster (and more reliable) than its current service, which was intended to be a selling point to jaded would-be riders, but wouldn't be high-speed rail, not like the Europeans have, writes Matt Gurney. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

It’s back to work for Parliament

  • The world remains a mess. Wars rage abroad. Canada’s economy remains under threat. The U.S. president seems to change his mind on vital issues
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 25, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks down Sparks Street in Ottawa on May 2, 2025. Carney must now not only deal with national and international issues, but also the wants, hopes, and needs of 170 Liberals, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s back to work for Parliament

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 25, 2025
  • The world remains a mess. Wars rage abroad. Canada’s economy remains under threat. The U.S. president seems to change his mind on vital issues

It’s back to work for Parliament

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 25, 2025
  • The world remains a mess. Wars rage abroad. Canada’s economy remains under threat. The U.S. president seems to change his mind on vital issues
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks down Sparks Street in Ottawa on May 2, 2025. Carney must now not only deal with national and international issues, but also the wants, hopes, and needs of 170 Liberals, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If Carney actually runs cabinet effectively, it’ll be an upgrade

  • On the change front, it’s a wash, at best. But the only thing that’s going to matter with this cabinet is whether Mark Carney
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 19, 2025
Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger, left, Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault, Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, pictured May 13, 2025, shortly before being sworn-in to cabinet at Rideau Hall. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

If Carney actually runs cabinet effectively, it’ll be an upgrade

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 19, 2025
  • On the change front, it’s a wash, at best. But the only thing that’s going to matter with this cabinet is whether Mark Carney

If Carney actually runs cabinet effectively, it’ll be an upgrade

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 19, 2025
  • On the change front, it’s a wash, at best. But the only thing that’s going to matter with this cabinet is whether Mark Carney
Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger, left, Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault, Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, pictured May 13, 2025, shortly before being sworn-in to cabinet at Rideau Hall. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Last Monday was a both great night for the Tories, and a disaster

  • Both of those things are true in equal measure. It’s not spin to point that out—frankly, it’s spin not to. The election result is
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 5, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at a rally at Olde Stanley’s Maple Lane Farm in Edwards, Ont., on April 27, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Last Monday was a both great night for the Tories, and a disaster

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 5, 2025
  • Both of those things are true in equal measure. It’s not spin to point that out—frankly, it’s spin not to. The election result is

Last Monday was a both great night for the Tories, and a disaster

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | May 5, 2025
  • Both of those things are true in equal measure. It’s not spin to point that out—frankly, it’s spin not to. The election result is
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at a rally at Olde Stanley’s Maple Lane Farm in Edwards, Ont., on April 27, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What a weird election this has been

  • Canadians may well be about to elect a government not necessarily in line with what they want when they think about things during rare
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | April 21, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. An An Abacus poll released on April 16 showed a tightening, and a slight erosion of Carney’s personal approval ratings—though they remained quite robust!—and a notable uptick in the desire for change. Abacus had that at 56 per cent, up five points from the week before. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

What a weird election this has been

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | April 21, 2025
  • Canadians may well be about to elect a government not necessarily in line with what they want when they think about things during rare

What a weird election this has been

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | April 21, 2025
  • Canadians may well be about to elect a government not necessarily in line with what they want when they think about things during rare
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. An An Abacus poll released on April 16 showed a tightening, and a slight erosion of Carney’s personal approval ratings—though they remained quite robust!—and a notable uptick in the desire for change. Abacus had that at 56 per cent, up five points from the week before. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

We, the media, haven’t done enough to explain how devastating foreign interference can be for individual Canadians

  • These people are Canadian citizens—our kin. Part of our family. And we’re hanging them out to dry. They’re crying out for help, help that
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | April 7, 2025
Ken Ng, left, chair of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Markham, and then-Liberal MP Paul Chiang at a Lunar New Year reception on the Hill on Feb. 4, 2025. Chiang stepped down last week after he suggested that a Chinese-Canadian political rival be handed over to the Chinese government, which has a bounty out for his arrest. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

We, the media, haven’t done enough to explain how devastating foreign interference can be for individual Canadians

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | April 7, 2025
  • These people are Canadian citizens—our kin. Part of our family. And we’re hanging them out to dry. They’re crying out for help, help that

We, the media, haven’t done enough to explain how devastating foreign interference can be for individual Canadians

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | April 7, 2025
  • These people are Canadian citizens—our kin. Part of our family. And we’re hanging them out to dry. They’re crying out for help, help that
Ken Ng, left, chair of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Markham, and then-Liberal MP Paul Chiang at a Lunar New Year reception on the Hill on Feb. 4, 2025. Chiang stepped down last week after he suggested that a Chinese-Canadian political rival be handed over to the Chinese government, which has a bounty out for his arrest. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

We need more people doing the critical jobs in Canada

  • Canada's health-care system, our military, border services, and the RCMP all need attention. It’s been too long a wait already. We need more people.
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 24, 2025
RCMP Commissioner Michel Duhemme, pictured Feb. 20, 2025, at a news conference in the House foyer. The RCMP has long-standing staffing issues, and former prime minister Justin Trudeau released a white paper recently calling for major reforms to the RCMP, including a narrowing of its mission, Matt Gurney writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need more people doing the critical jobs in Canada

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 24, 2025
  • Canada's health-care system, our military, border services, and the RCMP all need attention. It’s been too long a wait already. We need more people.

We need more people doing the critical jobs in Canada

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 24, 2025
  • Canada's health-care system, our military, border services, and the RCMP all need attention. It’s been too long a wait already. We need more people.
RCMP Commissioner Michel Duhemme, pictured Feb. 20, 2025, at a news conference in the House foyer. The RCMP has long-standing staffing issues, and former prime minister Justin Trudeau released a white paper recently calling for major reforms to the RCMP, including a narrowing of its mission, Matt Gurney writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Gretzky doesn’t have to comment

  • I wish Wayne Gretzky would say something. And we can judge people when they don't. I am disappointed in Gretzky's silence. But that's where I
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 10, 2025
Wayne Gretzky is a private citizen, and, by all accounts, a decent man. He's choosing, for his own reasons, to avoid public comment on an issue that's close to my heart, writes Matt Gurney.   Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Gretzky doesn’t have to comment

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 10, 2025
  • I wish Wayne Gretzky would say something. And we can judge people when they don't. I am disappointed in Gretzky's silence. But that's where I

Gretzky doesn’t have to comment

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | March 10, 2025
  • I wish Wayne Gretzky would say something. And we can judge people when they don't. I am disappointed in Gretzky's silence. But that's where I
Wayne Gretzky is a private citizen, and, by all accounts, a decent man. He's choosing, for his own reasons, to avoid public comment on an issue that's close to my heart, writes Matt Gurney.   Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Trudeau intent on wrapping up his career with promises

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is intent on wrapping up his political career in the same manner he spent it—promising, but not delivering, but still
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 24, 2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Feb. 1, 2025, on the Hill. Trudeau announced on Feb. 19 that there will finally be a high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City, but we've been hearing about the high-speed rail for decades, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau intent on wrapping up his career with promises

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 24, 2025
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is intent on wrapping up his political career in the same manner he spent it—promising, but not delivering, but still

Trudeau intent on wrapping up his career with promises

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 24, 2025
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is intent on wrapping up his political career in the same manner he spent it—promising, but not delivering, but still
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Feb. 1, 2025, on the Hill. Trudeau announced on Feb. 19 that there will finally be a high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City, but we've been hearing about the high-speed rail for decades, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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Dealing with Trump is going to involve some up-front performance

  • But let’s not forget the back end. Fixing our correctional and justice systems will help demonstrate to the Americans that Canada is a good
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 10, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
If the cost of mollifying U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured, is putting on a bit of a show, it’s cheap at the price. But I couldn’t help but wonder how prepared we are on the back end to actually make good on anything we are pledging to do, writes Matt Gurney. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

Dealing with Trump is going to involve some up-front performance

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 10, 2025
  • But let’s not forget the back end. Fixing our correctional and justice systems will help demonstrate to the Americans that Canada is a good

Dealing with Trump is going to involve some up-front performance

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | February 10, 2025
  • But let’s not forget the back end. Fixing our correctional and justice systems will help demonstrate to the Americans that Canada is a good
Donald Trump
If the cost of mollifying U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured, is putting on a bit of a show, it’s cheap at the price. But I couldn’t help but wonder how prepared we are on the back end to actually make good on anything we are pledging to do, writes Matt Gurney. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

It’s going to be a long four years

  • Both as journalists and as a nation, we need to remember whatever lessons we learned from Trump's first four years: We're going to
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 27, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance. Our best hope now is to simply lie low, respond to any moves from the U.S. calmly, and avoid drawing any attention onto ourselves that we can avoid. Maybe Chrystia Freeland should rethink running against Trump in her videos, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright and courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

It’s going to be a long four years

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 27, 2025
  • Both as journalists and as a nation, we need to remember whatever lessons we learned from Trump's first four years: We're going to

It’s going to be a long four years

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 27, 2025
  • Both as journalists and as a nation, we need to remember whatever lessons we learned from Trump's first four years: We're going to
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance. Our best hope now is to simply lie low, respond to any moves from the U.S. calmly, and avoid drawing any attention onto ourselves that we can avoid. Maybe Chrystia Freeland should rethink running against Trump in her videos, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright and courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

I’m hoping Trump finds the Panama Canal more interesting than the Rideau

  • When would the prime minister, or enough Liberals around him, have had the chance to make a leadership change that wasn’t too disruptive? And
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 9, 2025
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
The refusal of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Jan. 8, 2025, to leave has put the party and the country in a position where there’s no longer time to do anything before Trump’s inauguration, except pray that he finds the Panama Canal more interesting than the Rideau, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

I’m hoping Trump finds the Panama Canal more interesting than the Rideau

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 9, 2025
  • When would the prime minister, or enough Liberals around him, have had the chance to make a leadership change that wasn’t too disruptive? And

I’m hoping Trump finds the Panama Canal more interesting than the Rideau

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | January 9, 2025
  • When would the prime minister, or enough Liberals around him, have had the chance to make a leadership change that wasn’t too disruptive? And
Justin Trudeau
The refusal of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Jan. 8, 2025, to leave has put the party and the country in a position where there’s no longer time to do anything before Trump’s inauguration, except pray that he finds the Panama Canal more interesting than the Rideau, writes Matt Gurney. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada Post has had big structural problems for a long time

  • Canada Post had problems five weeks ago, and will have the same problems—only bigger—in five weeks or months. I really don't know what CUPW
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | December 16, 2024
A Canada Post employee waves a smoke device during a picket outside the postal service’s head office in Ottawa on Nov. 28, 2024.

Canada Post has had big structural problems for a long time

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | December 16, 2024
  • Canada Post had problems five weeks ago, and will have the same problems—only bigger—in five weeks or months. I really don't know what CUPW

Canada Post has had big structural problems for a long time

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | December 16, 2024
  • Canada Post had problems five weeks ago, and will have the same problems—only bigger—in five weeks or months. I really don't know what CUPW
A Canada Post employee waves a smoke device during a picket outside the postal service’s head office in Ottawa on Nov. 28, 2024.

Labour dispute between Ontario PC government and teachers may feel familiar, but it’s not 1997

  • For many Ontario parents, a protracted, nasty dispute between a Progressive Conservative government and unionized educational workers might feel familiar because they've lived through
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 7, 2022
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and former Ontario premier Mike Harris. The 1997 disruption was the culmination of a bitter labour dispute between then-PC premier Harris and the province's teachers' unions. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Labour dispute between Ontario PC government and teachers may feel familiar, but it’s not 1997

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 7, 2022
  • For many Ontario parents, a protracted, nasty dispute between a Progressive Conservative government and unionized educational workers might feel familiar because they've lived through

Labour dispute between Ontario PC government and teachers may feel familiar, but it’s not 1997

Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | November 7, 2022
  • For many Ontario parents, a protracted, nasty dispute between a Progressive Conservative government and unionized educational workers might feel familiar because they've lived through
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and former Ontario premier Mike Harris. The 1997 disruption was the culmination of a bitter labour dispute between then-PC premier Harris and the province's teachers' unions. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

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