Ottawa
UJ
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Many across Canada likely groaned as much as they laughed when comedian Mike Myers appeared in a campaign ad alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney, showcasing his catchphrase “elbows up” while the country of his birth grapples with the nation he now calls home.
The Liberal Party’s advertisement leaned heavily into familiar Canadian stereotypes and humor, which may fall flat in the serious tone of this election campaign.
While US President Donald Trump won’t be on the Canadian ballot, the strategies each candidate proposes to confront him will be pivotal. “Standing strong” and “elbows up” are slogans all Canadian politicians are embracing, but the real challenge lies in meeting Canadians’ expectations amid a looming trade war with their largest trading partner.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has continuously threatened to annex Canada and jeopardize its economy with tariffs, jokingly labeling it as “the 51st state.”
Carney has characterized the threat posed by Trump as existential, stating during his campaign launch that the US president aims to “break us so America can own us.”
“I’m asking Canadians for a strong, positive mandate to confront President Trump and to construct a new Canadian economy that benefits everyone, as I recognize we need substantial, transformative, and constructive change,” Carney remarked on Sunday, kicking off a five-week campaign culminating in a national vote on April 28.
His Conservative Party opponent, Pierre Poilievre, echoes a similar sentiment.
“I will demand that the president acknowledges Canada’s independence and sovereignty, that he ceases imposing tariffs on our nation, and simultaneously I will fortify our country so we can stand on our own and confront Americans when necessary,” Poilievre declared in his initial campaign address on Sunday.
Heading into this campaign, Poilievre and Carney’s parties are virtually neck-and-neck, and their approaches to addressing Trump—given that many voters are both furious and fearful of the US leader’s threats—will likely determine the outcome of this election.
“We’ve moved past the shock of that betrayal—because it is a betrayal—but we must continuously remember the lessons learned,” Carney has consistently asserted in speeches, although he has yet to clarify to Canadians what these lessons entail.
Canadian Prime Minister: Trump wants to break us so America can own us
Canada’s economy is not in a robust state. The “elbows up” phrase may energize voters, but Canadians must roll up their sleeves to weather the economic challenges posed by the United States.
For years, economists have warned about Canada’s low productivity—a significant vulnerability during any trade conflict.
Carolyn Rogers, a senior deputy governor at the Bank of Canada, referred to it as a “break the glass” emergency last year, noting that Canadian productivity has significantly declined over the past four decades, particularly in comparison to the United States.
“Labour productivity quantifies the amount of output an economy generates per work hour. Enhancing productivity entails discovering ways for individuals to generate more value during their work hours,” she explained, adding that it serves as a buffer for the economy against issues such as inflation.
A TD Economics report from May 2024 concisely remarked that Canada’s economy has faced challenges in enhancing worker productivity.
For both a former central banker like Carney and a resource advocate like Poilievre, there is no immediate solution. Without efforts to dampen the consequences of a possible “decoupling” from the US, Canadians may face a marked decline in their standard of living.
The United Kingdom and Europe are navigating similar predicaments; the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany have tentatively begun conversations with their nations, indicating that a separation from the US could necessitate cuts to social programs, boosted deficit financing, or both.
While this type of discourse may not enter Canadian political speeches in the weeks ahead, it certainly should.
In just ten days as Prime Minister, Carney has proposed tax reductions on income, energy, and new housing, as well as increased funding for social initiatives like national dental care.
Poilievre has vowed to implement his own “bold and beautiful” tax reductions along with additional military spending and financial support for apprenticeship programs for the trades.
“We will confront this unprovoked threat with unwavering determination since Canadians are resilient, robust, and ready to stand up for themselves,” Poilievre stated during a campaign stop on Sunday evening.
Even his criticisms of the Liberal Party, claiming it has subjected Canadians to “American dominance,” lack a concrete plan for remedying that situation.
Trump serves as a rare opportunity for Canadian politicians; denouncing him and his policies offers an easily wielded campaign weapon.
This dynamic, however, could shift on April 2, the date Trump has pledged to impose reciprocal tariffs on all nations, including Canada.
With the prospect of mass layoffs imminent following that announcement, alongside a further dip in the Canadian dollar and stock market, party leaders will have to abandon slogans and provide a clear and actionable plan for moving forward.
