Where did the Elbows Go?

“Elections do indeed have consequences and should have them. The sovereignty of the people must be honoured.”

— Marilynne Robinson, The New York Review of Books

Reading those words, I found myself wondering: are Canadians beginning to ask what, exactly, became of the consequences of our most recent election?

Are the commitments made during the campaign being honoured? Why the rush to pass legislation that skirts consultation, civil liberties, Charter rights—and most troubling of all, the role of Parliament itself?

The Liberals were pulled back from the edge of electoral defeat, helped in no small part by Donald Trump’s blustering proposal to turn Canada into the 51st state. That affront sparked a national instinct to push back.

Mark Carney seized the moment, casting himself as “Captain Canada,” offering a bold vision of greater independence, diversified trade, and a recalibrated security policy. The phrase “elbows up”—borrowed from hockey—became a metaphor for asserting Canadian space and standing our ground.

But today, the elbows are down. The road to a more distinctive and independent Canadian policy is not just bumpier—it’s becoming harder to even make out.

Behind Closed Doors with Trump

Take the murky, backchannel negotiations with Trump on trade and security. Thirty days have been set aside for a deal. Trump, it seems, is enthusiastic.

Canadians? We’re left in the dark. That alone should raise serious concerns.

Then there’s the strong signal that Carney may endorse Trump’s so-called “Golden Dome”—a $71 billion leap into a new arms race in space. A colossal expenditure designed more for defense contractors and lobbyists than for any tangible Canadian interest.

It threatens to drain public coffers and further entangle Canada in U.S. military designs—without a serious national conversation.

Parliament as a Rubber Stamp

At home, Parliament is increasingly treated like a formality. Recent legislation has bypassed Indigenous consultation, narrowed civil liberties, and adopted a regressive posture on refugee policy.

Not exactly the progressive government Canadians thought they were electing.

G7 Deference

On the global stage, the pattern is no better.

At the recent G7 summit, commentators called it a success—mainly because Trump didn’t throw a tantrum. He simply left early. Carney responded with polite congratulations, calling him a great leader of the G7. No challenge. No discomfort. Just deference.

On climate, the summit produced a bland statement on wildfires—carefully avoiding any reference to the driving force behind them: accelerating climate change.

Ukraine Left Waiting

President Zelenskyy came to the G7 hoping for bold commitments—on sanctions, financing, and military aid. The response was underwhelming. As The Guardian put it, Zelenskyy was “left in the lurch.”

Canada made a $5 billion contribution from interest on frozen Russian assets—a constructive step, yes, but nowhere near enough.

More conspicuously, there was no mention of Canada’s previous G7 proposal to convert the full $220 billion in frozen Russian assets into direct aid for Ukraine. The idea vanished—blocked by European reluctance to part with their financial sanctums.

And Canada? Rather than pressing forward, we fell silent.

From Independence to Control

So where does that leave us? The election promised innovation, independence, and principled leadership. Instead, we see a government increasingly preoccupied with control: limiting rights, shrinking accountability, silencing dissent.

Yes, there is a need to respond to Trump’s trade provocations and false border claims. But urgency is not an excuse for unchecked power. Canadians didn’t vote for Leviathan.

Liberal leadership must balance state action with democratic restraint. Civil society must be at the table—not watching from the sidelines.

Time for Tougher Questions

And yet, the media still seems to be on a post-election honeymoon. Perhaps it’s time for some tougher questions—starting with Mark Carney.

What is his actual game plan? Does it still reflect the promise of independent Canadian action that helped carry the election?

It’s time to put the elbows back up.