Prime Minister Mark Carney received a decidedly mixed welcome from football fans during his appearance at the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The country's leader was at the centre of a polarizing moment, drawing both cheers and loud boos from the crowd at Princess Auto Stadium.
A Chilly Reception on the Prairie
The prime minister's role was to perform the traditional coin toss at midfield, officially starting the championship game between the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Carney was joined for the toss by Lucas Matheson, the CEO of Coinbase. While the ceremonial duty is typically a formality, the reaction from the stands was anything but quiet. A significant portion of the audience expressed their dissatisfaction with boos and even foul-mouthed chants directed at the PM.
Despite the audible disapproval, Carney maintained his composure throughout the event. He was seen smiling, waving to the crowd, and even taking photos with some fans, showing no visible sign that the negative reception had affected him.
Social Media Echoes Stadium Sentiment
The reaction was not confined to the stadium. On social media platform X, Carney posted about the event, writing, "The Grey Cup brings Canadians together across provinces, territories, and time zones to celebrate the very best of Canadian football — and last night was no exception." He concluded his post with, "Thanks for having me, Winnipeg, and congrats to the @sskroughriders on the big win."
The post included a video of the coin toss and his fan interactions, though viewers noted that the broadcast feed on TSN appeared to lower the audio levels during the booing. Online, fans were less muted in their criticism. One social media user commented, "Great he’s getting the respect he deserves publicly finally, he truly let the country down," while another wrote, "So happy to hear the crowd boo Carney!! Just made my day!! He so deserved it."
Roughriders Claim the Championship
Beyond the political drama, the 112th Grey Cup was a celebration of Canadian sport. The event featured a pre-show performance by the Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace, with American rapper MGK taking the stage for the halftime show.
When the final whistle blew, the Saskatchewan Roughriders emerged victorious, defeating the Montreal Alouettes with a final score of 25-17. The win marks the fifth Grey Cup championship in the Roughriders' history, providing a triumphant end to the CFL season.
