By Simrin Purhar

My mom’s reply to my Instagram story was quick and crystal clear: “Absolutely not”. I’d posted a picture of our former prime minister making out with Katy Perry on a yacht, J.Lo style. Shortly after my mom voiced her disapproval, a friend replied, “Obsessed”.

As I continued to swipe through Instagram, I noticed my girl crush, The New Yorker staff writer Naomi Fry, published a piece about the cross-border couple. The article featured a tasteful homage to Canada, featuring a Harlequin romance-inspired illustration of Justin and Katy bordered by maple leaves.

The volume of discourse struck me. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Is Canada, like, hot again?

The last time I was proud of Canada was when Schitt’s Creek went viral. Since then, Canada has fallen to the wayside as our neighbours to the south have dominated the entertainment news cycle across film, music, and good old-fashioned celebrity........

© Georgia Straight