Torontonians rubbed elbows with a number of Canadian celebrities in Nathan Phillips Sq. Saturday afternoon to push again towards U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats.
A part of the grassroots “Elbows Up, Canada!” marketing campaign, Saturday’s rally was billed as a “peaceable present of unity, resilience and energy,” at a time when Trump is making threats towards Canada’s sovereignty and slapping tariffs on Canadian items.
Fittingly, chants of “elbows up!” echoed by means of the crowd a number of instances as organizers and homegrown superstar audio system took the stage.
The hockey phrase — which originated with the legendary participant Gordie Howe — grew to become a nationwide rallying cry this month after comic Mike Myers, who grew up in Scarborough, mouthed the phrases on Saturday Night time Reside whereas carrying a “Canada will not be on the market” T-shirt. T
The March 1 episode aired simply days earlier than the U.S. slapped 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian items. Most of these tariffs have been subsequently paused till April 2.
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Canadian actor Mike Myers could have began a motion by pointing to his elbow and mouthing the phrases ‘elbows up’ throughout appearances on Saturday Night time Reside. The phrase has caught on and has turn into a rallying cry within the commerce warfare.
Saturday’s gathering in Toronto was the second “Elbows Up” rally in Ontario this month after about 1,000 folks rallied at Parliament Hill a number of weeks in the past.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow was invited to talk, together with well-known Canadians like Dragons’ Den star and enterprise chief Arlene Dickinson, comic Shaun Majumder and Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, who carried out his new commerce war-inspired music, We Was once the Better of Buddies.
The organizers of the Elbows Up, Canada rally earlier this month in Ottawa are following up with one other at Nathan Phillips Sq. in Toronto on Saturday. Jim Cuddy, of Blue Rodeo, will carry out his new viral hit, We Used to Be the Better of Buddies.
Majumder, who’d been dwelling in California for about 20 years, informed CBC Information forward of the rally that he “couldn’t have picked a greater time in Canadian historical past to repatriate again to this nation.”
Though that is solely the second official “Elbows Up” rally, Majumder mentioned the thought is gaining steam throughout the nation.
“Each time I publish one thing about an ‘Elbows Up’ factor that is taking place, persons are like, ‘Come to our metropolis, come to our city, we wish this to occur throughout the nation.'” Majumder mentioned.
A whole bunch of individuals gathered on Parliament Hill Sunday to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian items and discuss of Canada turning into the “51st state.” (Photograph: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Co-organizer Peter Wall says he and different volunteers began “Elbows Up, Canada!” as a technique to deliver Canadians collectively and ship a peaceable message.
“We’re all type of feeling one thing proper now as a rustic,” Wall mentioned. “The message is admittedly that Canada is value standing up for.”
However for the American authorities, Wall mentioned the rallies maintain a special message: “We’re neighbours, we’re pals, however we do not need to get married.”
Organizers need to hold the rallies a non-partisan celebration of Canadian delight, Wall mentioned. Provincial or federal politicians aren’t invited to talk, although all are welcome to attend.
However with a brand new prime minister in workplace and a federal election looming, many attendees informed CBC Toronto that politics have been prime of thoughts.
Sources inform CBC Information a federal election is predicted to be referred to as for April 28.
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