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Share this Story : Recall Parliament so MPs can voice support for Canada under threat from Trump, Axworthy says Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News Local News Recall Parliament so MPs can voice support for Canada under threat from Trump, Axworthy says "Parliament should be meeting today," the elder statesman told a rally of 1,000 people in Ottawa Sunday. Get the latest from Peter Hum straight to your inbox Sign Up Author of the article: Peter Hum Published Mar 09, 2025 • 3 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.
Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the 'Elbows Up, Canada!' rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Attendees waved Canadian flags and signs reading 'Canada is not for sale' and 'Not the 51st state'. The non-partisan, family friendly event emphasized Canadian sovereignty, unity and resilience.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Article content Parliamentarians need to return to the House of Commons to pass an all-party resolution in support of Canada as the country grapples with American aggression, elder statesman Lloyd Axworthy said Sunday afternoon. “Parliament should be meeting today,” Axworthy told more than 1,000 people attending a Parliament Hill rally. “I would ask the next prime minister, before you call an election, recall Parliament so that before we get into the competition, we also get on with what unites us.
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Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content The 85-year-old Axworthy, who was a Liberal MP for almost three decades and Canada’s minister of foreign affairs during the late 1990s, was among the speakers at a hastily convened rally meant to affirm Canada’s sovereignty in the face of U.
S. President Donald Trump’s anti-Canadian rhetoric and on-again-off-again tariffs on Canadian goods. Canada is not for sale was a statement spotted on hats, signs and shirts during the rally Sunday.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Axworthy spoke hours before the Liberal Party of Canada was to announce its new leader, who will succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Responding to Trump, Canada’s politicians need to move forward with a clear sense of “who we are as Canadians” rather than just “spitballing,” Axworthy said. “The tariff war is just beginning,” he said.
Trump, he said, is Canada’s “adversary ...
a megalomaniac who has only one thing in mind, power and greed.” Trump, Axworthy said, is after more than just Canadian resources. “He wants to destroy the things that have given us, as Canadians, who we are, what we are and where we should go,” said Axworthy.
Lloyd Axworthy, the former minister of foreign affairs, addressed the crowd Sunday. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia “That human rights are important, he thinks is a joke. That democracy is the right way to govern, he thinks that’s a sign of weakness.
That we have respect for other people and have diversity and equality, he thinks that they’re simply a fool’s game.” Evening Update The Ottawa Citizen’s best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m.
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We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content He also warned that Canada’s next federal election is under threat by Trump and his adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, “who have the money and the power and the platforms to interfere .
.. to make people distrust who we are.
“We have to be ready for it and we have to realize that our democracy is too important to give away,” Axworthy said. He called on Canadians to act according to their values by ensuring that “people who are going to suffer pain” as a result of U.S.
tariffs “are given full regard. The non-partisan, family friendly event emphasized Canadian sovereignty, unity and resilience. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia “We are paying a price.
There’s no question about it, but we have to withstand it,” Axworthy said. He likened the challenges that today’s Canadians will face to the hardships that his parents’ generation faced during the Second World War. “Maybe we’re not being faced with the kind of fascism that was there in 1939, but we’re facing an adversary to the south of us,” said Axworthy.
Other speakers at the so-called Elbows Up, Canada rally who urged Canadians to stiffen their spines included Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and comedian Shaun Majumder. “I have never been prouder to be a Canadian than I am today,” Sutcliffe said. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was one of the guest speakers Sunday afternoon. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Referring to the nearby National War Memorial and members of the Canadian Armed Forces who died in their service to Canada, Sutcliffe said, “We are grateful for their sacrifice, and we will not let anyone threaten our country ..
. . We will honour the resolve and commitment of those soldiers, of those people who fought for our country, and we will always fight for Canada.
” Coming days will not be easy, Sutcliffe continued. “It might even be painful for a while,” he said. “But we are going to come out stronger.
We are going to come out a better country.” Comedian Shaun Majumder had the crowd laughing as he brought his jokes to the stage Sunday afternoon. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Newfoundland-raised Majumder, an actor and comedian best known for appearing for years on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, said he had recently relocated with his wife and two daughters from the U.
S. to Nova Scotia. “We have moved back to Canada because we believe in this place,” Majumder said.
He urged the crowd to stay united, even as issues drive wedges between Canadians. “Don’t let them try to divide you,” said Majumder. “We can disagree on all kinds of policies.
We can disagree on immigration. We can disagree on financial stuff. It doesn’t matter.
We’re still Canadian.” [email protected] Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the ‘Elbows Up, Canada!’ rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the ‘Elbows Up, Canada!’ rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Coun. David Hill was wearing his Canada is not for sale hat Sunday on Parliament Hill.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the ‘Elbows Up, Canada!’ rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Lloyd Axworthy, the former minister of foreign affairs, addressed the crowd Sunday. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia A hockey stick coat check was set up outside the gates of Parliament Hill, as hockey sticks were not permitted on the grounds during the rally.
Attendees could leave their sticks there before joining the crowd to show their Canadian pride. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia A hockey stick coat check was set up outside the gates of Parliament Hill, as hockey sticks were not permitted on the grounds during the rally. Attendees could leave their sticks there before joining the crowd to show their Canadian pride.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Musical guests The Sunburns performed for the crowd, adding to the lively atmosphere of the rally on Parliament Hill. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia The non-partisan, family friendly event emphasized Canadian sovereignty, unity and resilience. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the ‘Elbows Up, Canada!’ rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was one of the guest speakers Sunday afternoon. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Meredith Brown, Riverkeeper Emerita (right), was among the many rally participants on Parliament Hill proudly showing their Canadian spirit. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the ‘Elbows Up, Canada!’ rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Comedian Shaun Majumder had the crowd laughing as he brought his jokes to the stage Sunday afternoon. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Carol Goodman sang a Joni Mitchell song for the rally goers. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Carol Goodman sang a Joni Mitchell song for the rally goers.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia A meet and greet with your neighbours pushed rally goers to talk to people they did not already know Sunday. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Alexandera Powell-Tucci spoke to the crowd about the importance of trans rights and her first-hand experiences. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Organizers Julie Descoteaux and Peter Wall were all smiles as the event came to a close.
Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Crowds gathered on Parliament Hill for the ‘Elbows Up, Canada!’ rally on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Elyse McCann led a group sing-a-long of the Tragically Hip’s Ahead By A Century. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Alexandera Powell-Tucci gave her dad a hug after she spoke to the crowd about the importance of trans rights and her first-hand experiences.
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