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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 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
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.
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

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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