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The Walrus@thewalrus· 27d

What pushed Pope Leo XIV to take a harder line against the Society of Saint Pius X? The Walrus editor-in-chief Carmine Starnino sits down with papacy scholar Michael W. Higgins to unpack the decades-long conflict and what it reveals about the Catholic Church today: https://ow.ly/CP3P50Znzlu

On the left: a black and white image of a religious official dressed in robes, a cross, and mitre holding a sceptre split with a photo of a gathering outdoors in Vatican City featuring rows of men wearing white and black religious robes. On the right: text that reads “Vatican casts out traditionalist sect. What’s next for Canadian followers? An excommunication story, fifty-six years in the making.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 27d

For writer Nicole Scmidt, Airbnb has gone from disruptive travel darling to “the mediocre partner you’ve thought about dumping.” Have you had a vacation rental that missed the mark? Tell us your stories at audience[at]thewalrus[dot]ca or tag us on social media. https://ow.ly/kWfe50ZnzgX

The Walrus@thewalrus· 27d

A public feud is consuming Canada’s Conservative movement. Writer and public affairs consultant Dan Robertson argues the issue isn’t who’s right—it’s whether the party still looks ready to govern. https://thewalrus.ca/the-conservative-feud-is-embarrassing-grow-up/

On the left: a photo of Pierre Poilievre in a white shirt and white cowboy hat with his hand extended to wave. On the right: text that reads “The Conservative feud is embarrassing. Grow up. If Pierre Poilievre wants to win power, he needs to stop waging war on his own side.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 27d

One of Quebec’s biggest real estate moguls orchestrated a seven-year arson campaign over a business grudge. Writer Caitlin Walsh Miller traces how Christophe Folla’s quest for revenge left millions in damage and exposed the cost of unchecked power: https://ow.ly/oort50Znz21

The Walrus@thewalrus· 27d

Thirst traps of Mark Carney are racking up millions of views online. While these thirst traps recognize the ridiculousness of Carney as a sex symbol, they also acknowledge that, in 2026, his brand of “bland stability” has become deeply seductive. https://thewalrus.ca/mark-carney-thirst-traps/

On the left: a collage of images of Prime Minister Mark Carney and Instagram thirst trap captions praising him on a pink background. On the right: text that reads “How Mark Carney became a sex symbol. A guide to the social media accounts calling our prime minister hot”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 28d

What if elections are shaped long before campaign season begins? Writer Sophie Gilbert argues that television, tabloids, and reality TV have spent decades teaching audiences what power should look like when women seek it. https://ow.ly/j5yP50Zn9Kq

On the left: black and white images of Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Sarah Palin with a multi-colour overlay. On the right: text that reads “Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Sarah Palin have one thing in common. Sexism cost them their shot at high office. But I’m hopeful for women in politics.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 28d

Calgary’s fight over housing isn’t just about zoning—it’s about who gets a voice. After public pressure reversed blanket rezoning, policy activist Peter Dormaar argues wealthy homeowners have an outsized influence over housing debates. https://thewalrus.ca/rich-block-affordable-housing/

On the left: Photo looking down at a suburb with rows full of single-detached houses. On the right: text that reads “How Canada’s richest residents block affordable housing. In Calgary, the wealthy have a virtual stranglehold over meetings where key decisions are made.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 28d

Today’s internet makes it hard for young people to avoid extreme content. “The bluntness of the age-verification solution, however, is like making a library an eighteen-plus venue because there is erotica inside,” writes Lucy Uprichard. https://thewalrus.ca/internet-queer-censorship/

On the left: an image of a vintage, white desktop computer displaying a rainbow flag on a dark blue background. On the right: text that reads “The internet is bad and getting worse—especially for queer kids. A broad new law will end up erasing vital spaces and resources”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 29d

Canada’s wildfire crisis is not only about climate change. A century of fire suppression, fractured jurisdictions, and reactive funding has left forests overloaded and communities exposed. Will governments invest before the next emergency? https://thewalrus.ca/canada-wildfires/

On the left: an illustration of two fire fighters putting out a forest fire. On the right: text that reads “Canada is primed to burn. Why aren’t we ready? The country still lacks the people and equipment to handle our record-breaking wildfires.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· 29d

The Walrus and Peter Mansbridge have partnered to invest in emerging writers in Canada with the Mansbridge Essay. This is a new annual $5,000 program for reported writing. Submissions open till July 15. https://thewalrus.ca/mansbridge-essay

A black and white photo of Peter Mansbridge.

The Walrus@thewalrus· 29d

The Freedom Convoy exposed deep political divisions. It also galvanized Ottawa residents to stand together. Alex Silas, national vice president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, reflects on resisting extremism and rebuilding common ground: https://ow.ly/vznR50ZmNbm

On the left: a photo of marching protesters. The people and scenery are in black and white, and the banners they are holding are in colour. The banners are red and read "Community Solidarity March." On the right: text that reads “How I faced off against the Freedom Convoy—and won over its supporters. Some even apologized and broke down in tears.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 11

Bill by bill, Alberta’s political landscape has shifted. Writer Patrick Lennox considers how a little-known strategy document helped guide that transformation—and what it could mean for Confederation itself: https://thewalrus.ca/the-blueprint-behind-danielle-smiths-plan-to-break-up-with-canada/

On the left: two side-by-side images; one is a man with his arms in the air while holding an Albertan flag, and the other is Alberta premier Danielle Smith talking on a stage while wearing a light pink pantsuit. On the right: text that reads “The blueprint behind Danielle Smith’s plan to break up with Canada. A little-read separatist manifesto is shaping her government’s most controversial moves.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 11

New crossword is up! Head over to The Walrus Games: https://thewalrus.ca/games/

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 10

Canada has a new social platform—and it’s making a bet against the internet as we know it. Gander promises human verification, Canadian data sovereignty, and healthier conversations. But can it actually compete with today’s social media giants? https://thewalrus.ca/gander-canada-social-network/

On the left: an image of a blond person looking at their phone with the Gander social media app on the screen. On the right: text that reads “A Canadian social network? Don’t roll your eyes yet. Gander is betting there’s an appetite for a homegrown platform built on trust instead of outrage”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 10

This month, Canada’s new Protecting Victims Act comes into force, adding criminal penalties for AI-generated intimate images. Journalist Elizabeth Sargeant investigates what the legislation changes and where questions still remain: https://ow.ly/Ywzi50Zmg2h

On the left: an illustration of two distorted purple silhouettes, one of which is positioned inside a smartphone. On the right: text that reads “Canada has a new law to stop deepfake nudes. Will it work? Penalties under Bill C-16, coming into effect this month, include up to 10 years in prison”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 9

What if the law Canadians need to regulate surveillance pricing already exists? Writer Emily Osborne argues the Telecommunications Act already prohibits unjust discrimination, a principle that could be applied more broadly across the economy. https://thewalrus.ca/stop-surveillance-pricing/

On the left: a close up photo of a keyboard with a red "Enter" key; instead of enter, the key reads "Buy" with a small icon of a shopping cart. On the right: text that reads “Canada already has the tools to stop surveillance pricing. The real problem isn’t a gap in the law. It’s a lack of political will to enforce existing legal principles”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 9

Weird things happen on social media all the time—Mark Carney becoming a sex symbol may be the strangest. But, as Amarah Hasham Steele writes, his appeal has less to do with his looks than with what Canadians find attractive in a political leader today. https://thewalrus.ca/mark-carney-thirst-traps/

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 8

Who speaks for the Conservative Party matters as much as what it says. Writer Linda Thornback argues the CPC’s latest shadow cabinet appointments signal an effort to move beyond a leader-centric campaign: https://thewalrus.ca/at-last-signs-of-life-in-the-conservative-party/

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 8

For decades, successive Canadian governments have defended temporary foreign labour as economic flexibility, but experts say that flexibility has come at a human cost. “Flexibility has turned into dependency, dependency into abuse,” writes Adnan R. Kahn. https://ow.ly/Mpu850Zllij

On the left: an image of a Canadian flag with a tightrope strung across it. A tightrope walker is walking across in the middle of the maple leaf icon. On the right: text that reads “The Temporary Foreign Worker Program can’t be fixed. The only way to stop companies from abusing the system is to end it”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 7

Guy Mitchell’s fatal fall into a cistern at a Jerseyville, ON, group home exposed a history of extreme neglect and failing infrastructure. How do institutions built for care become sites of harm? Author Dustin Galer explores: https://ow.ly/oUM750ZkXOL

On the left: a photo of file folders with the words Forensic Report labeling the cover. A picture of a single storey house next to barren trees is on top of the stack of folders. On the right: text that reads “A man with disabilities was found dead in an underground cistern. What happened? “It was absolutely disgusting,” said the police about the care home where Guy Mitchell drowned.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 7

Argentina just created legal corporations run entirely by AI agents, no humans required. Ira Wells argues this previews a “post-work, post-nation-state, post-human future” nobody has prepared for—and few in power are honestly reckoning with. https://ow.ly/NaqN50ZkXOf

On the left: a photo of a hand holding a glass bottle with a lit rag shoved into it to make a Molotov cocktail with data servers in the background. The image is monochrome red. On the right: text that reads “The people who want to stop AI by any means necessary. As public fear of the technology grows, violent resistance may become difficult to prevent.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 6

Should Canadians crowdfund a prime minister’s residence? Mark Carney says 24 Sussex deserves a new life. But Taylor C. Noakes argues restoring the crumbling home mistakes nostalgia for nation building—and risks missing a rare opportunity to start fresh. https://ow.ly/gF1w50Zk6Ab

On the left: Photo of the executive residence 24 Sussex Drive in monochrome red with a wrecking ball swinging toward it. On the right: text that reads “Scrap 24 Sussex Drive. Canada can do better. Crowdfunding repairs to the prime minister’s official home is a terrible idea. Time to start from scratch.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 6

Finding a personal planner that worked with her ADHD and cerebral palsy took years. Then a trade war upended the system she’d finally built. Writer Sarah Trick explores the connection between accessibility, consumer choice, and global politics: https://thewalrus.ca/perfect-planner-trump-tariffs/

On the left: Illustration of wavy pen lines in an intricate design flowing off a page of notebook paper with pens and sticky notes surrounding it. On the right: text that reads “I finally found the perfect planner. Then Trump ruined it. How a paper company and tariffs threw the world of stationery hobbyists into chaos.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 4

In 1988, John Turner warned: “When economic levers go, political independence is sure to follow.” He lost. Now, with Trump eyeing a “51st state,” Dónal Gill asks what Canada gave up—and whether it can get it back. https://thewalrus.ca/canadas-mistake-was-believing-the-border-no-longer-mattered/

On the left: a photo of a hand erasing the maple leaf of an illustrated Canadian flag on a blue background. On the right: text that reads “Canada’s mistake was believing the border no longer mattered. Free trade with the US made us wealthier. It also left us vulnerable”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 3

Writer Alika Lafontaine argues that anger is a call for help—outrage is what it becomes when no one answers. He sees PEI’s physician dispute as a case study in how institutional silence can turn a solvable problem into a lasting crisis of trust. https://ow.ly/3Nc050ZjUnK

On the left: a photo of PEI premier Rob Lantz walking with a blurry background. On the right: text that reads “How a single quote sparked a political firestorm in Prince Edward Island. I spoke out about Canada’s health care system. Premier Rob Lantz took it personally”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 3

Province House has long been celebrated as the “Cradle of Confederation.” Its restoration is also prompting a reckoning with the Indigenous displacement and colonial legacy tied to Canada’s founding. Trevor Corkum explores: https://ow.ly/wTjm50ZjUnh

On the left: an illustration of a man in colonial dress standing in front of Province House on Prince Edward Island. On the right: text that reads “Can the birthplace of Confederation catch up to the times? Ten years after it was closed for renovations, PEI’s Province House confronts a changed world”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 3

On January 10, 1977, Vancouver’s supposedly “impregnable” safety deposit vault was gutted. More than 1,200 boxes were breached by Montreal’s West End Gang. Police estimated the haul in the “tens of millions.” The case remains unsolved. https://ow.ly/eo1550ZjUmT

On the left: a photo of a man sitting next to a hole dug through a beige wall. On the right: text that reads “How to rob a bank everyone thinks is unbreakable? Call the West End Gang. For one crew of thieves, no vault was impossible. The Vancouver heist is their masterpiece.”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 3

Canada's representative at this year's Venice Biennale isn't offering easy political symbolism. Instead, artist Abbas Akhavan is filling the Canadian pavilion with plants, challenging what we expect art to explain about nature, identity, and belonging. https://ow.ly/Ymc550ZjUmG

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 2

The June 22 shooting in Montreal is reigniting a debate Canada hasn’t settled: When misogyny drives mass violence, is it a hate crime, terrorism, or something else? Journalist Olivia Bowden explores: https://thewalrus.ca/the-deadly-montreal-shooting-shows-incel-violence-is-a-public-emergency/

On the left: a photo of a police officer walking outside with orange cones in the background. On the right: text that reads “The deadly Montreal shooting shows incel violence is a public emergency. The misogynist ideology is blending into other extremist views”

The Walrus@thewalrus· Jul 2

The war in Ukraine has reshaped how militaries think about power. ADIT North America president Erin O'Toole argues Canada’s procurement system can’t afford to plan for yesterday’s wars while today’s technology evolves at breakneck speed. https://ow.ly/cVCA50Zjv4C