2025 was a year for Canada. We went from political whiplash to full-on trade war with the U.S., as Trump’s “America First” tariffs hit hard and pushed Canada into uncharted territory. Justin Trudeau bowed out, Mark Carney stepped in, and against all odds, the Liberals pulled off a minority win by running straight at American pressure with an “Elbows Up” message.

At home, things were messy. Big strikes shut down Canada Post and grounded flights. The MMIWG crisis forced the country to confront painful truths again. A bizarre ostrich farm court battle somehow became an international spectacle. Public health took a hit as measles returned. Also, the CRA quietly lined up more audit power than ever.

Globally, Canada started looking east. New trade deals, critical minerals drama, and an all-out race for AI made it clear the world’s rules are changing. Meanwhile, Indigenous artists dominated Junos and TIFF, K-pop ruled the internet, and “brain-rot summer” somehow became a thing.

If you found this helpful, hit like, share it with a friend, and subscribe. Consider grabbing a paid subscription or buying me a coffee to help keep this content free and independent. Thanks for listening.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.