I took a bit of a break last week to squeeze in a short family getaway. Today, I’m right back at it.

In our last poll, we asked: After reading both sides, is Canada's World Cup team the real deal?

Well, 75 per cent voted yes — and keep in mind that was about a week ago. I figure that number would be closer to 100 per cent if I ran the same poll today.

Canadian pride is having a moment after Sunday’s World Cup win over South Africa, which advanced us to the Round of 16. Our squad has been lowkey impressive, no doubt.

It’s also Canada Day this week, so we’re having some fun with today’s feature story by debating two great things about our country.

You can find it below, along with your chance to vote in our poll.

Happy Canada Day,

-Neil

American food, retailers and entertainment are pretty much everywhere in Canada. Yet one thing from the U.S. has never taken hold: its health-care system.

The waitlists are real, the doctor shortages are real, and the strain is real. But the best thing about Canada is still this: when you get sick, the crisis is medical, not financial.

That sensibility is exactly why medicare remains Canada’s most important national achievement.

Canada’s greatest strength is what it isn’t.

In a world where politics is getting angrier, institutions are under attack, and extremism is gaining ground, boring stability looks less like weakness and more like a strength.

Canada isn’t free of grievance, division, or political nonsense. But compared to the alternatives, Canada looks pretty great.