I have to admit I am feeling somewhat abused these days, and my psychic joints are paying the price. First it was 'elbows up', then it was 'elbows down", followed by the latest exercise, clearly the most painful of all, 'bowing down', Like the old man on the porch brandishing his cane, I want to tell the kids to either get off my lawn or show some spine.
And I am clearly not alone in my sense of injury. The other day, Andrew Phillips wrote:
I won’t pretend to know what was going through the PM’s mind as he bowed to the president [i.e., apologized for the Reagan-Ford ad]. I can only assume he was thinking many of the same things any self-respecting Canadian would be thinking. Such as: “I can’t believe I have to do this.”
And what did Carney get for that act of self-abasement? Nothing, as far as we can tell.
But this apology is troubling for a lot of reasons. It’s not just that it makes Canada look weak and divided, though the hard reality is that this country is both of those things right now, much as we’d all like to think otherwise.
It’s worse than that. It reinforces the worst of all the things we’ve learned about Trump and how he deals with anyone who gets in his way. Which is that, according to him and his acolytes, pushing back is the greatest sin for those he’s decided to lean on.
Such grovelling, according to Phillips, is an affront to truth.
It accepts the premise that it’s illegitimate for Canada to make its case with the United States openly and unapologetically. It undercuts the notion that talks between Canada and the U.S. are a dialogue between two parties with their own valid interests. Not between equals, exactly, but between countries that have the most basic right to advocate for themselves.
Letters to the editor reflect widespread discontent with what Carney did.
Carney’s apology to Trump an embarrassment for Canada
As a proud Canadian I was embarrassed when Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized to President Donald Trump for Doug Ford’s TV ad, a perfectly fair critique of Trump’s reckless tariff threats.
That ad spoke truth to power. Carney’s apology spoke weakness to it.
This wasn’t leadership. It was capitulation. Apologizing when nothing wrong was done isn’t defaulting to Canadian politeness. Rather, it erodes our credibility and emboldens bullies. Trump’s bluster over tariffs is the real offence — risking a trade war that harms everyone. Ford did what was right by advertising the truth. Whereas Carney’s needless deference whitewashes the aggressor and makes Canada look weak.
Where does this end? Will Carney next grovel to U.S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, the Trump clone whose rhetoric has been laced with expletives?
At this rate, Carney will likely apologize on our behalf for existing on the same continent. It’s time for Carney to reclaim the persona he showed during his election run: the bold economist who charmed Americans on The Daily Show with wit, courage, candor and unapologetic smarts. He was the anti-Trump: thoughtful, internationalist, unafraid to call out nonsense.
Canadians aren’t being led right now; we’re being shamed. We voted for a leader who’d stand tall on the world stage, “Elbows Up,” advocating for fair trade, enduring alliances and a respected Canada.
Prime Minister Carney, stop apologizing when you are in the right. Reclaim your voice. Our pride and our principles depend on it.
Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
Our PM needs to stop apologizing to our neighbour to the south
Canada owes no apologies to Donald Trump or the United States. Trump cares only about his ego and the almighty dollar.
I’m sure many decent Americans would agree. The apology our prime minister owes is to Canadians for wilting under pressure.
Stop being nice and stand up for our country.
That is what strong leaders do.
Rick Lockman, Orillia, Ont.
You stand up to bullies, you don’t say sorry to them
As a left-winger, I never thought I’d ever say this, but I’m totally on Doug Ford’s side when it comes to standing up to Trump.
You cannot appease bullies and tyrants, you must confront them. Ford was right to run the Reagan ad during the World Series. Prime Minister Mark Carney was wrong to apologize for it to a wannabe dictator.
It’s as if Carney decided to go as Neville Chamberlain for Halloween.
Steve Andrews, Toronto
Here's one more:
Good cop, bad cop
Re “Ford the bully, Carney the conciliator: the dream team” (Report on Business, Nov. 3): Sure, we’re known for politeness, but there’s a difference between courtesy and submission. When Doug Ford aired the truth about tariffs on U.S. television, that was courage.
That’s why Mark Carney’s apology shames me as a proud Canadian. After nine months of failed diplomacy, he should read the national mood of resistance to Donald Trump.
Mr. Ford stood up for Canada; Mr. Carney bowed down. His deference whitewashes the aggressor and makes us look like beggars in our own backyard.
We voted for a leader who’d stand tall on the world stage, “elbows up,” advocating for fair trade, enduring alliances and a respected Canada. He should rediscover the bold economist who once charmed Americans on The Daily Show with wit, courage and candor, and spoke truth without flinching.
Mr. Carney should stop apologizing when he is in the right and reclaim his voice. Our pride and principles depend on it.
Tony D’Andrea Toronto
National pride is a delicate virtue, one that needs to be regularly nourished by strong, visionary leadership. I fear that presently, there is a deep void that no one, as far as I can discern, seems fit to fill.
