Adedokun Waliyu 
Only in Canada could two men who made their careers out of the country, offer a lecture on what it is to be a Canadian.
Just call that a Canadian citizenship hat trick because when it comes to nationalities, it’s been loudly reported that both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canadian comedy legend Mike Myers each have three.
Does it get any more Canadian than a British-Irish-Canadian prime minister and a U.S.-British-Canadian comedian bumping into each other in a hockey rink where they used American-Canadian Mr. Dressup as a test to solidify Hoser status?
It also doesn’t get any more Canadian than two guys who actually left Canada to make their fortunes but are now back urging Canucks to put their “elbows up” to save just one of the countries they hold citizenship in.
But like the previous “post-national state” prime minister Justin Trudeau liked to do, they are dressing up as Canadians in a fun, minute-long comedic TV spot that smartly dropped on the eve of a federal election call. It begins with a shot from behind of Carney wearing a red No. 97 hockey sweater on the boards watching some hockey players skate when a familiar face pops into the frame wearing the same, red, Canada sweater.
“Mr. Prime Minister,” said the man as he nestles up to the boards in front of a Canadian flag, taped the wall.
“Mike Myers?” asks a surprised Carney? “What are you doing here?”
Myers: “I just thought I would come up and check on things.”
Carney: “You live in the states?”
Myers: “Yeah, but I will always be Canadian.”
Carney: “But, you live in the states?”
Myers: Yeah, so?”
At that point Carney gives Myers the Canadian test.
“Do you remember Mr. Dressup?”
Myers: “The children’s show on CBC?”
Carney: “What were the names of Mr. Dressup’s two puppet friends?”
Myers: “Casey and Finnegan.”
While he clearly passes, just to keep in the spirit of what is Canadian, Mr. Dressup — Ernie Coombs — came up to Canada from the U.S. to do the show but later became a Canadian, similar to iconic Casey and Finnegan puppeteer Judith Lawrence, who came to Canada from Australia. Like Coombs, Carney and Myers, Lawrence was rightfully bestowed the honour of being presented the Order of Canada.
A Canadian is a Canadian, is a Canadian, as Trudeau used to say. But Carney gave Myers a rapid fire “are you really Canadian’ quiz,” just to be sure.
In succession, Carney said “Bud the” to Myers answered, “Spud” and then “Howie” to which Myers said, “Meeker” and then “capital of Saskatchewan” to which Myers responded, “Regina.”
Perhaps the true high bar of Canadianism came when Carney said “Tragically” to which Myers replied, “Hip” and, of course, the hockey question, “If you are a defenceman defending a two on one, what do you do?” to which Myers said, “Take away the pass, obviously.”
Perhaps the best line came when the prime minister asked, “What are the two seasons in Toronto?” to which Myers answered, “Wnter and construction.” At that point Carney paused, and said, “Wow, you really are Canadian.”
At the end of the Carney-Myers video comes the big reveal of Myers wearing No. 51 with the name above it being “never,” as a message to American President Donald Trump who refuses to stop pushing his narrative that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Interestingly, there was no mention of how Myers — on Kelly Ripa’s show in 2022 — announced that he was an “American citizen,” and proud of it.
Myers left Canada decades ago for an monster entertainment career in the United States. Carney not only left Canada to become the Governor of England, but just before becoming leader of the Liberals, moved his Brookfield investment company’s headquarters to New York. He’s on record at the World Economic Forum saying he was “speaking as a European.”
Neither is known to have lived in Canada in recent years but still offered a tutorial on Canadianism.
Actor Mike Myers mouthed the words, “Elbows up,” at the end of Saturday Night Live on March 1, boosting a call for action in the face of economic threats against Canada from United States President Donald Trump. Considered to be a reference to Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe’s famous elbows, he also wore a “Canada is Not For Sale” t-shirt and put his elbows up as a rallying cry.
But on that same show, Myers also played presidential buddy and billionaire Elon Musk, who also has hat trick citizenship: Canadian, South African and American.
Whether it’s channelling Musk as “Dr. Evil” from his Austin Powers movies or being patriotic with his “Never 51” campaign, it will be interesting to see how Trump reacts and, perhaps more importantly, how Canadians do when they go to the polls.
Only then will we know if this showbiz approach scores with Canadian voters.
Prime Minister Mark Carney takes to the ice in his custom jersey and a pair of goalie skates as Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Paul Coffey and forward Jeff Skinner look on during a practice at Rogers Place on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Edmonton, Alta.
