The fonds consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, minutes, memoranda, personal notes, diaries, photographs, videos and an assortment of ephemera created or collected by Carney over her years in federal politics. The fond consists predominantly of materials reflecting Carney's political life. Records from her years in the Official Opposition (1980-1984) and in government (1984-1988) consist of parliamentary reports, minutes from Neighbourhood Nights and correspondence from constituents. The majority of materials reflect Carney's tenure as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources (1984-1986), and Minister of International Trade (1986-1988). For dates during the evolution of both the Atlantic and Western Accords, these records include correspondence between Carney and provincial premiers, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and provincial Ministers of Energy. Records from the FTA include a copy of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, correspondence with Simon Reisman, Finance Minister Michael Wilson, Mulroney, and other Cabinet Ministers. FTA materials also include correspondence and newspaper clippings from the tenth anniversary of the FTA. The records also include copious handwritten notes from Carney's participation on the Priorities and Planning Committee of the Cabinet. The fonds also includes records from State Visits of the Prince and Princess of Wales and American Vice-President George Herbert Walker Bush to Expo 86, as well as State Visits by President and Mrs. Reagan of the United States and President and Mrs. Mitterrand of France. The fonds also contains records documenting Carney's career as a Senator, including a series dedicated to the Task Force on Barriers to Women in the Public Service. Also, the records contain a series of Carney's School of Community and Regional Planning teaching materials as well as limited amounts from both her private life and her career as an economic journalist.
The 2011 accrual (Boxes 47-60) consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, personal notes, reports, photographs, tapes and videos created collected by Carney during her time as a Senator. There is also further material regarding the reception of her autobiography and material from the operations of Gemini North.

The collection consists of exhibits, videotapes and documents collected for the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), correspondence and legal documents related to both the PCC and related legal actions, APEC Alert posters, information, pamphlets and ephemera, other material collected and created by Oppenheim with regard to the events surrounding APEC and the RCMP PCC, transcripts of the PCC proceedings, and a number of photographs.