Canadians skeptical Carney can get trade deal done without 'Elbows Up'

In politics, as in hockey, “elbows down” can have unhelpful consequences.

You can get hit more, for example. Lots more bruises and missing teeth, too.

A quick 2025 refresher, for those who don’t remember: Justin Trudeau leaves, Donald Trump arrives, 51st state, Pierre Poilievre collapses, Mark Carney appears.

And Carney – who had never run for high public office before, had never chaired a cabinet meeting, had never participated in televised leaders’ debate – did better than anyone (especially Poilievre) expected.

But he had a secret weapon, didn’t he?

Carney had two words that made him prime minister, and saved the Liberal Party of Canada from a fourth-place finish in the election – “Elbows up.”

The Liberals bet the house on those two words, and it paid off, big time. They put them