SASKATOON—Liberal Leader Mark Carney likened this election to a hockey match, as he made his second stop in the city to rally support for their party on the eve of the federal election on Sunday, April 27, at the packed Gather Local Market.
Saskatchewan is considered a Conservative bailiwick as the Tories represent all 14 ridings. Early indications show a close fight is expected in the ridings of Saskatoon University and Saskatoon West between the Conservatives and Liberals.
However, votes are expected to be split between the Liberals and NDP, which might result in wins for incumbent Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West) and Cory Tochor (Saskatoon University) against lawyer Chad Eggerman and University of Saskatchewan professor Greg Poelzer.
Carney, who played as a backup goalie while attending Harvard University, made a last-minute pitch that he and his party have the right to govern Canada as US trade tensions heat up under President Trump’s tariff threats. The United States is the country’s largest trading partner.
“We are in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. There is one minute left in the game, and we want to win it. We need to be the leaders in this event, because, together, we can take that spirit of community that is so central to Saskatchewan,” said Carney, who flew in from Vancouver.
“We are fighting the Americans. We're fighting them with our tariffs, which are expected to have the maximum impact in the United States within the following year. Elbows up. Everyone else has their head down. We have our elbows up. Canada has their elbows up.
He added that Canadians have been supporting local products and businesses because of the tariffs, where money is staying in the country, with every penny benefiting Canadian workers and businesses.
"Elbows up" became a unifying cry for all Canadians after Trump’s threats to impose economically impactful tariffs on goods that the country exports to its southern neighbour, such as lumber, potash, and oil and gas. Elbows up is Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe’s signature move.
The former Bank of Canada governor visited Vancouver to offer condolences and support to the grieving families of the victims of the horrific act in a Filipino community event on Saturday night, April 26. Eleven people died and dozens were injured after a vehicle plowed through a gathering.
“That spirit of community that's spread across and been demonstrated in Vancouver today (Sunday, April 27). We can take that community. We can build a strong Canada for everyone. There's always an ask at the end. And this is the ask. We need your help,” added Carney.
“They are trying to break us. That's not going to happen. In this trade war, just like in hockey, the gloves are off, and we will win because we are united. This election can be decided here in Saskatchewan. It will be a huge part of the process of the country coming together.”
Carney said Trump, with his tariffs and plans to impose it further not only to Canada, is rupturing the global trade that could harm not only the US economy but has crippling implications to countries which will have the receiving end of his economic plan.
“The broader crisis that we face, because this is, in many aspects, what Canada is about and what our response is to the tariff crisis, is the trade crisis that President Trump is inflicting on America's most steadfast ally, its closest friend, Canada,” said Carney.
“He's going to do lots of damage to his economy; he's going to spill over to others. We have to take him literally and seriously. He and America are trying to break us. They are trying to break us so that they can own us. That's not going to happen.”
