In our hockey-loving country of Canada, we all know the phrase “elbows up” means a fight is about to happen on the ice.
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But the phrase has taken on new significance over the past few days as Canada has been hit with tariffs from the United States that could have devastating effects on our economy and relationship.
Canadians, however, aren’t about to back down from a fight. They’re ready and have started using the phrase “elbows up” to let the U.S. know they’re not willing to roll over.
The phrase also got a big boost from actor Mike Myers. At the end of the March 1 edition of Saturday Night Live, on which Myers had appeared to parody Elon Musk, Myers appeared on stage in a “Canada is not for sale” T-shirt at the end of the program. He lifted his arm as the credits started to roll, pointed to his elbow and mouthed the words, “Elbows up.” It’s become a rallying cry on social media.
Calgary entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson, best known for her appearances on the TV show Dragons’ Den, used the words “Elbows up” to conclude a message on Facebook published Monday with her advice on what Canadians can do in the face of newly imposed U.S. tariffs.
She also took the occasion to ask Canadians to make a distinction between the actions of U.S. politicians versus those of the American people. “Remember our American neighbours. Americans didn’t do this to us, the Trump administration did,” Dickinson wrote.
Self-described hockey nut Andrew Berkshire provided some additional context about the use of the term “Elbows up” on the ice and how it might translate into the political world.
“Elbows up is a warning to teammates that liberties are being taken with no calls. So if they’re taking a piece, make sure they get it worse,” Berkshire wrote on Bluesky.
“I think it’s a very apt description of Canadian attitudes towards violence. Elbows up is not an act of aggression, it’s a call to defend yourself, violently.”
Ontario MP Charlie Angus also highlighted a link between the term and hockey great Gordie Howe.
“It’s a reference to the great Gordie ‘Mr. Elbows’ Howe and his willingness to punish those who tried to mess with the team,” Angus wrote on Facebook. “You heard him: elbows up. And if anyone asks why, tell them that Mike Myers sent you.”
Canadians have responded in force, saying they are ready to use their wallets to fight a trade war with the United States.
Halifax-based Narrative Research released a poll Tuesday indicating three-quarters of Canadians have changed at least one purchasing behaviour since Trump began threatening Canada with tariffs.
The online poll conducted from Feb. 12-14 among 1,232 Canadians over the age of 18 asked if residents had sought out Canadian products, looked at labels to avoid U.S.-made items or cancelled a trip south of the border.
In response to the across-the-board tariffs on Canada and Mexico, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy, the federal government announced immediate 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products. Another $125 billion in U.S. goods could be affected in 21 days.
Canadian business leaders reacted strongly to the U.S. imposition of tariffs.
“Today’s reckless decision by the U.S. administration is forcing Canada and the U.S. toward recessions, job losses and economic disaster,” said Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
“Rather than bringing back affordability or creating a ‘golden age’ for business, tariffs will cost consumers at the checkout, cost producers more at every point along the supply chain, and force businesses to find alternate suppliers that are less reliable than Canadian ones.”
Parts of the labour movement have also called for an economic realignment in the face of new tariffs from the United States.
“After months of taunts and threats that have already hurt investment decisions and jobs in Canada, Trump has fired the first shot in a full-on trade war and now every Canadian politician, business leader, worker and resident must fight back,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne.
“Today our trade relationship forever changed with the U.S. and now we must invest in ourselves, redefine international trade relationships, and build a new, more resilient economy.”
— With files from The Canadian Press