- Canada’s Liberal Party brought in comedian Mike Myers in one of its latest political ads.
- Myers urged Canadians to “elbow up” with Canada’s Prime Minister in an apparent dig at Trump.
- The phrase has become a rallying cry among Canadians against Trump’s tariff threats.
Mike Myers called on Canadians to “elbow up” in a Liberal Party election ad, seemingly taking a jab at US President Donald Trump.
The Canadian-American comedian, who grew up in Toronto and now lives in New York City, appeared in Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign spot on Saturday. Standing outside an ice hockey rink, he asked Carney: “Will there always be a Canada?”
“There will always be a Canada,” Carney responded.
“Elbows up,” Myers replied — a reference to the hockey term popularized by Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe, which has become a rallying cry among Canadians against Trump’s tariff threats.
Myers, famous for movies like “Austin Powers” and “Wayne’s World,” used the phrase in an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” earlier this month.
Now-former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also used it in a speech at the Liberal leadership convention, which marked his transition out of office after 10 years.
As Myers turned to the ice hockey game, the back of his jersey read “Never 51,” a rebuke of Trump’s calls for Canada to become the 51st US state.
Carey, an economist who succeeded Trudeau as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party earlier in March, seized upon that message in a Sunday speech and called a snap election on April 28.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said.
“President Trump claims that Canada isn’t a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us,” he continued. “We will not let that happen. We need to build the strongest economy in the G7.”
Trade tensions between the two countries have escalated, as Trump implemented 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico, with limited exceptions for goods traded under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Trump has also placed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports and plans to issue a series of further tariffs on April 2.
In a March 3 statement, Trudeau said that if Trump’s tariffs go into effect, Canada would place a 25% tariff on $155 billion of American goods until they are withdrawn. On March 13, Canada implemented 25% tariffs on goods worth roughly $30 billion.
Carney now heads into a five-week campaign in which he will compete against the Conservative Party and its leader, Pierre Poilievre.
The new prime minister calling an election was widely expected as he lacks a seat in Parliament and his Liberal Party holds only a minority in the legislature.
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