Elbows Up, Canada!

Preparing For a Fight | Saturday March 8, 2025 | Newsletter 19

This week marks another pivotal moment for Canada as we struggle to deal with Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and the shifting geopolitical landscape. With Doug Ford returning as Premier for a third consecutive majority, there’s a mix of opportunity and concern in the air. In my Tuesday cartoon, I portrayed Ford as a slouch, revelling in his electoral win while overlooking the significant challenges that lie ahead. His decision, a good one in my eyes, to impose tariffs on American consumers of exported Ontario electricity, despite Trump’s temporary reprieve, highlights the tension between complacency and the urgent need for decisive action.

As the week unfolded, it became increasingly evident that Trump’s tactics are aimed at undermining Canada, exploiting economic uncertainties to exert pressure. The erratic nature of his administration reveals a troubling lack of understanding of government and economic dynamics, leaving Canada to navigate a complex web of grievances and retaliatory measures. Amid this chaos, Canadians are beginning to rally in a unified push-back against the nonsense, embracing the growing sentiment of “Elbows Up.” This phrase has emerged as a powerful symbol of our determination to assert our sovereignty and defend our interests during these challenging times.

In just a few days, relations between the U.S. and its closest allies have deteriorated sharply. Trudeau criticized Trump’s trade actions as “very dumb,” referencing a Wall Street Journal article that condemned the president’s trade war against allies. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance ignited controversy by suggesting that U.S. economic interests in Ukraine could provide better security than military contributions from “some random country,” showing disrespect toward allies like the UK and France. This rapid decline in diplomatic relations underscores a troubling shift in U.S. foreign policy under the current administration. Trump’s disparaging remarks about NATO, which includes Canada, ignore the years of allied cooperation against terrorism. JD Vance’s ignorance and disdain for the UK, France, and Europe can be summed up in one word: dumb.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025: The Complacent Captain In today’s cartoon, Doug Ford is depicted lounging behind his desk, exuding a sense of complacency following his recent electoral victory. The image contrasts his relaxed demeanour with outstretched hands offering him a superhero costume labelled “Captain Canada” and a stack of documents concerning “Interprovincial Trade Barrier Reduction.” This visual metaphor highlights the responsibilities he promised to act on during the election but got little or no mention in the first week of the so-called strong mandate in bolstering the province’s economy. Despite his campaign promises to combat tariffs, Ford’s approach has leaned towards populist theatrics rather than substantive action. The cartoon serves as a reminder that true leadership requires hard work and dedication to addressing the challenges ahead – and it means doing thankless unsexy work that won’t grab the headlines.

Making-of video: Ford’s third term raises doubts on trade barrier action

Wednesday, March 5, 2025: A Mallet of Misguided Decisions Today’s cartoon depicts President Trump swinging a mallet labeled “TARIFFS” while choking a distressed bald eagle, and Canadian beaver. The speech bubble above Justin Trudeau reads, “Donald, this is a very dumb thing to do,” capturing the widespread criticism of his recent tariff decisions. The visual commentary reflects a growing consensus that these tariffs do more harm to consumers in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy than address critical issues like fentanyl trafficking. Trudeau’s direct response to Trump’s actions reinforces his leadership amid potential economic disruptions, particularly in the auto sector. It was direct and accurate. It echoed the sentiment and stark headline in the conservative Wall Street Journal, and spoke to massive drops in the financial markets in the hours following. Then Trump blinked and announced a reprieve, making it all the more apparent that he and his yes-men are doing all of this on the fly. As one of Justin Trudeau’s final acts before a Liberal leadership successor is to be elected, he appears to be going out on a high note.

Making-of video: Tariffs: “Donald, This is a very dumb thing to do”

Thursday, March 6, 2025: The Monarchy of Misrule Today’s cartoon offers a depiction of Trump’s leadership, framing it as an imperialistic monarchy where democratic ideals are eclipsed by the ambitions of the oligarchs. In this portrayal, Speaker Johnson and JD Vance are illustrated as sycophantic page boys, dutifully serving their leader. Above Trump, the sacred principles of America are tarnished by a sharpie’s scrawl proclaiming “Trump, Oligarchy and the Pursuit of Money,” “In Vlad We Trust,” and a stark contrast to the foundational motto “E Pluribus Unum.” His assertion that “America is back” raises critical questions about the ramifications of his economic policies, hinting at a concerning turn towards protectionism and evoking echoes of colonial history that predate the founding fathers. The cartoon serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of Trump’s leadership style and the vital importance of preserving democratic principles. In the movie “Elf,” the Gimbels department store Santa is accused of sitting on “a throne of lies,” and what unfolded this past week was democracy reflecting comedy in a similar vein.

Making-of video: Trump’s Court: The New Era of American Monarchy

Friday, March 7, 2025: Navigating the Leadership Crossroads Today’s cartoon illustrates a crucial moment in Canada’s political arena, with the Liberal leadership race intensifying in light of Trump’s provocative policies. Key candidates—Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, and Frank Baylis—are depicted poised to cross a bridge labelled “Progress.” Below, the looming figures of Pierre Poilievre and Trump are portrayed as trolls, emphasizing the daunting challenges in the upcoming leadership announcement. This imagery shows the high stakes at play, highlighting Poilievre’s contentious approach while positioning Carney as the composed, capable central banker figure, adept at steering through the tumultuous waters of both Trump’s presidency and the Canadian political landscape. The challenges for Poilievre have ballooned as Trump’s pursuit of making Canada the 51st state becomes bolder. He’s had to pivot, but not so much that he alienates the maple MAGA supporters he pandered to while engaging with the freedom convoy crowd. Consequently, “Canada First” serves his purpose well, despite being borrowed from the “America First” playbook. The “axe the tax” slogan has faded, yet his lack of a climate change policy, which borders on denialism, reflects Trump-like thinking. His “Bring it Home” motto, whatever that means, along with his rhetoric against “woke” culture, disdain for the media, abandonment of foreign aid, and tendency to disrupt things, seems to come straight from the night courses he must have taken at Trump University. Poor Poilievre. It’s hard not to feel sorry for him as his prospects of seizing the throne slip away.

Making-of video: Liberal leaders face trolls Poilievre and Trump

Saturday, March 8, 2025: Elbows Up, Canada! What a week it has been for Canada. It feels like we’re living in a different world, where our once closest ally, the United States, is now behaving more like a rival. In this cartoon, I depicted a moose—one of our proud national symbols (and it’s time to give the beaver a break)—wearing a hockey jersey emblazoned with “NEVER 51” and standing with its elbows up. I aimed to capture the essence of our “Elbows Up” mentality, representing Canada’s defensive stance amidst the escalating U.S. tariffs and the annexation nonsense. The version you see above, featuring a… decapitation, was deemed too violent for my editors to accept. Instead, the one that went to print shows the scene just moments before a golf cart meets the moose along the road. Most Canadians are familiar with the consequences of such a confrontation, which might go over the heads of American readers. I feel it reflects where we stand in this economic conflict instigated by the very person being targeted in the cartoon. Only a few weeks ago, I was disturbed by Canadians booing the Star-Spangled Banner at hockey games. Now? Not so much.

Making-of video: Elbows Up Canada!

There is a silver lining to the mess the American administration is creating: Canadians are rallying, becoming stronger and more united than ever. “Elbows up” has become our rallying cry, symbolizing our determination to stand firm against these challenges.

Canadians will continue to say it, share it, and live by it. They will reject buying American groceries and booze, cut U.S. subscriptions, cancel vacations across the border, and look beyond our shores to friendlier trading partners in the UK, Europe, Australasia, Latin America, and the Commonwealth. We’ll do what needs to be done and invest in strengthening our national defence, ensuring that procurements are not made to enrich the military-industrial complex as we have done for decades. Together, we Canadians will navigate these tumultuous times and emerge stronger on the other side.

This week has served as a wake-up call for Canada. As we face the challenges posed by Donald Trump’s reckless tariff policies and the deteriorating relationship with our once closest ally, it is clear that we must stand united and resolute. The “Elbows Up” mentality encapsulates our collective determination to defend our sovereignty and assert our place in the global arena.

From Doug Ford’s beginning of his third term to more of Trump’s misguided decisions, the events of the week have underscored the importance of strong leadership and a cohesive national response. Canadians are coming together, pushing back against the narrative that seeks to undermine our independence and economic stability. As we look ahead, the governing Liberals will announce their successor to Justin Trudeau on Sunday, paving the way for a federal election between now and October, along with the usual guessing game and disruption from south of the border.

Americans may be dealing with so much of their own domestic Trump torment to pay much heed to what he’s inflicting on Canada. One things for sure, the whole world is watching what’s happening to Canada. There’s a silver lining to know there’s friends should we ever need them.

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Past Newsletters:

The Trump Menace vs. Ford’s Strong Mandate | March 1, 2025 | Newsletter 18

Politics, Hockey, and Trump | February 22, 2025 | Newsletter 17

Unity Over Superhero Politics | February 15, 2025 | Newsletter 16

Make Pollution Great Again | February 14, 2025 | Newsletter 15

Drawing Attention to Urgency | February 8, 2025 | Newsletter 14