‘Elbows up!’ – the hockey tactic inspiring Canada’s anti-Trump fight
By AFP
March 10, 2025
Gordie Howe's 'elbows up' tactics are one way that Canadians are getting in the spirit to fight back against Donald Trump - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP BRUCE BENNETT
A legendary Canadian ice hockey player renowned for his aggressive play has inspired the country’s emerging rallying cry of “Elbows up!” in its battle against US President Donald Trump.
Throwing an elbow — in your opponent’s face or ribs — is hardly rare in hockey, but the move is closely associated Gordie Howe, one of the sport’s greatest ever players.
Howe, known to many as “Mr Hockey,” was notorious for using his elbows to ward off opponents when battling for the puck.
“We’re a country that will be diplomatic when we can — but fight when we must: ‘Elbows up!'” outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said to a cheering crowd of Liberal Party supporters in his farewell address in Ottawa on Sunday.
Rising to their feet, the crowd chanted “elbows up” in response.
The catchphrase had been gaining traction online and was propelled to a new level this weekend when Toronto-born comedian Mike Myers mouthed it during the closing credits of US show Saturday Night Live.
Trudeau warned in his speech that Canada faced “an existential challenge” from Trump, who has repeatedly spoken about annexing the country and initiated trade tariffs that could devastate the Canadian economy.
A statue honoring Howe in his hometown of Floral, in the province of Saskatchewan, shows him on skates, holding a stick, with his left elbow pointed straight up.
“If a guy slashed me, I’d grab his stick, pull him up alongside me and elbow him in the head,” Howe, who died in 2016, once said.
Any country facing annexation from the world’s largest military power might want to be armed with more than pointed elbows, but in Canada hockey references can be unifying.
The premier of British Columbia David Eby, whose government has banned the sale of alcohol from US “red states” that support Trump, offered an explanation for the phrase.
“‘Elbows up’ means the other team is trying to take advantage, and if they come at you, they’re going to feel it,” he said.
Sunday’s Liberal Party meeting in Ottawa named former central banker Mark Carney as Trudeau’s successor. A transition is expected in the coming days.
Earlier Sunday, a crowd of about 1,000 anti-Trump protesters met on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and chanted “Elbows Up, Canada!”
Next Canadian PM Mark Carney to Trump: 'Canada Never, Ever, Will Be Part of America'
"There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy: Donald Trump," said Carney in his victory speech.
Mark Carney, newly elected as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, delivers his victory address following the official announcement of the 2025 Liberal Leadership race results at Rogers Centre, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on March 9, 2025.
(Photo: Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ellise Goldsmith
Mar 10, 2025
"There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy: Donald Trump," said Carney in his victory speech.
Mark Carney, newly elected as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, delivers his victory address following the official announcement of the 2025 Liberal Leadership race results at Rogers Centre, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on March 9, 2025.
(Photo: Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ellise Goldsmith
Mar 10, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
Former central banker Mark Carney will replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and take the helm of Canada's centrist Liberal Party after winning the leadership race by more than 80%. In his victory speech in Ottawa, Carney took direct aim at U.S President Donald Trump.
"There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy: Donald Trump," said Carney. " Donald Trump, as we know, has put... unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living. He's attacking Canadian families, workers, and businesses."
Last week, the Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on most goods imported from Canada and Mexico last week, prompting Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs. Trump has paused tariffs on some products from Canada, but the duties could still return in April, according to Bloomberg. But a trade war isn't the only area where Canadian and U.S. relations are feeling a chill. Trump has made threats to Canadian sovereignty by repeatedly saying Canada should be the 51st state of the U.S., which Carney also addressed in his speech.
"America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form," Carney told the crowd. "We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves."
After nearly a decade leading the Canadian government, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in January that he intended to resign as the head of the Liberal Party after it selected a new leader—acquiescing to calls that he should make way for new leadership ahead of a federal election later this year. Trudeau faced declining public polling and calls from within his own party to resign.
In recent weeks, however, the Liberal Party has sharply rebounded in public opinion polls—rising from 20% in early January to 30% as of March 5. A federal election must be held by October 20, 2025, but could be held sooner if a snap election is called. Carney will serve as prime minister for the duration of the party's ruling term.
Polling has the Conservative Party, lead by Pierre Poilievre, in the lead.
Carney will be the second Canadian prime minister "with no concrete links to parliament at the time of his appointment, including no seat in the House of Commons. While no rule bars this, convention suggests Carney will need to quickly announce plans to run for a federal seat," according to The Guardian.
Carney was the governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, and later was the first non-British person selected to run the Bank of England, from 2013 to 2020, according to The Associated Press. In both cases, Carney earned acclaim for helping the countries navigate economic hardship. From 2020 to early 2025 he was the United Nations’ special envoy for climate action and finance, per his LinkedIn page.
Former central banker Mark Carney will replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and take the helm of Canada's centrist Liberal Party after winning the leadership race by more than 80%. In his victory speech in Ottawa, Carney took direct aim at U.S President Donald Trump.
"There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy: Donald Trump," said Carney. " Donald Trump, as we know, has put... unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living. He's attacking Canadian families, workers, and businesses."
Last week, the Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on most goods imported from Canada and Mexico last week, prompting Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs. Trump has paused tariffs on some products from Canada, but the duties could still return in April, according to Bloomberg. But a trade war isn't the only area where Canadian and U.S. relations are feeling a chill. Trump has made threats to Canadian sovereignty by repeatedly saying Canada should be the 51st state of the U.S., which Carney also addressed in his speech.
"America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form," Carney told the crowd. "We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves."
After nearly a decade leading the Canadian government, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in January that he intended to resign as the head of the Liberal Party after it selected a new leader—acquiescing to calls that he should make way for new leadership ahead of a federal election later this year. Trudeau faced declining public polling and calls from within his own party to resign.
In recent weeks, however, the Liberal Party has sharply rebounded in public opinion polls—rising from 20% in early January to 30% as of March 5. A federal election must be held by October 20, 2025, but could be held sooner if a snap election is called. Carney will serve as prime minister for the duration of the party's ruling term.
Polling has the Conservative Party, lead by Pierre Poilievre, in the lead.
Carney will be the second Canadian prime minister "with no concrete links to parliament at the time of his appointment, including no seat in the House of Commons. While no rule bars this, convention suggests Carney will need to quickly announce plans to run for a federal seat," according to The Guardian.
Carney was the governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, and later was the first non-British person selected to run the Bank of England, from 2013 to 2020, according to The Associated Press. In both cases, Carney earned acclaim for helping the countries navigate economic hardship. From 2020 to early 2025 he was the United Nations’ special envoy for climate action and finance, per his LinkedIn page.
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