Elbowgate refers to a 2016 incident in the Canadian House of Commons involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. While attempting to clear a path for the Conservative party whip to speed up a vote on doctor-assisted dying (Bill C-14), Trudeau accidentally made physical contact with NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau. The resulting outcry from opposition members, who accused the PM of physical intimidation, turned into a massive media storm and a viral sensation. Online, the meme is used to satirize political theater, over-the-top reactions to minor incidents, and the generally polite but surprisingly intense nature of Canadian government proceedings.