The Year Ahead: 100 Predictions for 2025

The U.S. isn’t the only country set to anoint a ring-wing, ultra-populist leader in 2025. If the polls are to be believed, Pierre Poilievre will boot Justin Trudeau from the PMO when the federal election rolls around this year. He wants to make Canada great again, and he’ll do so by dismantling every policy the Liberals hold dear while attempting to supercharge housing supply and crack down on immigration. Of course, Poilievre isn’t Canada’s only big story of 2025. AI will continue to loom large, worming its way into health care, public education and even wildfire prevention. Canadians will fight back-to-office mandates and embrace right-to-disconnect laws. First Nations communities will become the new Bay Street power players. And in the midst of inevitable political turmoil down south, a new season of fungus monsters on The Last of Us will remind us that things could always be worse.

Climate

Ten Climate Predictions for 2025

A B.C. university will train North America’s first wildfire-fighting civilians, while AI hits the forest-fire front lines. Quebec’s flood zones will get a long-awaited overhaul. And Ontario will supersize its power grid.

By Maclean’s

Climate

Cutting the Carbon Tax Will Cost Canada in the Long Run

Pierre Poilievre wants to scrap Canada’s most effective climate policy. It’s a bad idea.

by kathryn harrison

POLITICS

Ten Political Predictions for 2025

The Liberals will struggle to rebuild their reputation and voter base, while Pierre Poilievre will likely take over the PMO and grapple with a disillusioned electorate. In the midst of all this turnover? A new Trump presidency.

By Maclean’s

POLITICS

Canada’s Pierre Poilievre Era Will Begin in 2025

He’ll likely win a majority and immediately kill all the Liberals’ sacred cows

by stephen maher

Health

Ten Health Care Predictions for 2025

The family doctor crisis will finally start to ease, while pharmacists take centre stage in patient care. The battle over private medicine will heat up. And governments will change how we treat addiction.

By Maclean’s

HEALTH

Don’t Fear the Robo-Doctor

I helped create AI software that cuts unexpected hospital deaths by 26 per cent. It’s just the beginning.

by amol verma

CULTURE

Ten Culture Predictions for 2025

Canadians will play spot-the-landmark when The Last of Us returns. The CBC will try to Poilievre-proof itself with a new CEO. And Canada’s Wonderland will roll out the country’s fastest, tallest launch coaster. 

By Maclean’s

CULTURE

How to Save Canada’s Arts Organizations

The country’s arts festivals, venues and organizations will have to get creative to stay afloat

by kelly langgard

TECH

Ten Tech Predictions for 2025

Canadians will make pioneering advances in artificial intelligence, driverless vehicles and quantum computing. And we’ll all finally get plugged into high-speed internet.

By Maclean’s

TECH

More Frequent—and Disruptive—Tech Outages Are on the Way

As companies offload tech systems to third-party suppliers, their supply chains will become vulnerable

by kami vaniea

SPORTS

Ten Sports Predictions for 2025

A women’s sports boom, a Raptors rebuild and a no-nonsense Leafs makeover are all on the docket for 2025. Meanwhile, the feds will tackle sports betting ads, while Alberta ramps up its own gambling scene.

By Maclean’s

The Year Ahead

When Ed Rogers Buys the Leafs, He’ll Reshape Toronto

The telecom will build stadiums, condos and real estate.

by michael naraine

BUSINESS

Ten Business Predictions for 2025

Generational change, culture shifts and labour activism will reshape workplaces, while slowing inflation, rising wages and a surge in side hustles will finally put a little more money in Canadians’ pockets

By Maclean’s

BUSINESS

The Indigenous Economy Is About to Take Off

Reconciliation is becoming Canada’s biggest business story—and its greatest economic opportunity

by carol anne hilton

EDUCATION

Ten Education Predictions for 2025

Quebec’s classrooms will take centre stage in the secularism debate. Chatbots will help students create A-plus work, while others will grade themselves. And thousands of international students will be sent home.

By Maclean’s

EDUCATION

How Structured Literacy Will Upend Canadian Education

Canadian students have struggled to read and write. That stops this year.

by jamie metsala

HOUSING

Ten Housing Predictions for 2025

Politicians will spar over how to tackle the housing crisis. Falling interest rates will draw young people into the real estate market. And a rude awakening is coming for homeowners renewing mortgages.

By Maclean’s

HOUSING

Canada’s New Mortgage Rules Will Drive Up Housing Prices

Looser lending policies will encourage more people to buy homes they can’t afford in the first place

by andrey pavlov

FOOD

Ten Food Predictions for 2025

The exorbitant cost of food will have ripple effects on the restaurant industry and grocery stores. The good news? There’s a plan to save the country’s salmon supply.

By Maclean’s

FOOD

School Food Programs Help Kids Succeed in Class—and Life

In 2025, Canada’s national school food program will give kids access to nutritious meals. It’s a game-changer.

by Rachel Engler-Stringer

This story appears in the January/February 2025 issue of Maclean’s. You can buy the issue here, subscribe to the magazine here or send a gift subscription here.