Trudeau sidesteps questions about Obama, pleads for progressive votes in Quebec

Trudeau has been working hard to convince progressive voters to cast their ballots for the Liberals, as the polls also suggest many are leaning toward the NDP and the Greens and, in this province, a resurgent Bloc Quebecois.

The Liberals see the friendly nod from the past U.S. president as underscoring their argument that, despite any disappointments voters might have, or desire to move more quickly on progressive issues, they should vote for Trudeau if they do not want Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer in charge.

It certainly got noticed. The Liberals say the Obama tweet has generated five times more engagement on their digital platforms than anything else so far in this campaign, with 3.5 million impressions in the first 24 hours.

Still, the endorsement also sparked some controversy at a time when concerns about foreign interference in democratic elections are prominent for many governments and voters, which is why Trudeau is facing questions about how it came about.

During an interview with Celine Galipeau, the news anchor for Radio-Canada in Montreal, on Thursday afternoon, Trudeau urged progressive voters to give him more time.

“There is still a lot to do and people are impatient, and I understand, but the choice is whether we continue to invest, or go back to cuts,” said Trudeau.

The Liberal leader was then asked whether this election is a referendum on his leadership, after a series of controversies like his trip to India — with its costumes and the attempted assassin invited to events — and how he handled the SNC-Lavalin affair.

“I have never pretended to be perfect,” he said, “but I think people know that the values and the approach I have, to invest and build a stronger society, and defend the rights of everyone, they can always count on that.”

Earlier Thursday, Trudeau was asked whether he had apologized to Obama, the first African-American to be elected U.S. president, for having worn brown- and blackface in the past.

Trudeau responded by saying the last time he spoke to Obama, who also endorsed Emmanuel Macron’s successful bid for the French presidency, was in the spring when the former president delivered a speech in Ottawa.

Last month, Time magazine published a yearbook photo of Trudeau in dark makeup at a 2001 “Arabian Nights” party organized by West Point Grey Academy, the Vancouver private school where he was a teacher. Two more instances of Trudeau wearing blackface quickly emerged.

Trudeau has apologized for wearing the makeup, which he says he now believes is racist.

Trudeau spent Thursday campaigning in Quebec, where the Liberals won 40 of 78 seats in 2015. That success played a major role in delivering them a majority government.

The sudden rise of the Bloc Quebecois, led by Yves-Francois Blanchet, is posing a threat to the Liberals’ ability to form another one, which is one reason Trudeau has been going extra hard against the Bloc.

Liberal candidate Francois-Philippe Champagne, a cabinet minister seeking re-election in Saint-Maurice-Champlain, decried the argument from the Bloc Quebecois that they can be a stronger voice for the province.

“Does anyone believe that?” Champagne said in Trois-Rivieres on Thursday.

“Honestly, I would say I think Quebecers want to decide for themselves and deciding for yourself is being in government,” he said.

“The nature of the opposition is asking questions in the House. The nature of government is to govern, is to reflect what Canadians want, so I’m very confident that Quebecers want to decide for themselves,” he said.

Marianne Rousseau, 18, gets to choose for herself for the first time Oct. 21, as this is the first election since she became old enough to vote.

Trudeau sat down with her for a few moments as he was making his way through a crowded restaurant in Terrebone, Que., people asking for photos as they ate bacon and eggs.

Rousseau said she told Trudeau that the environment is her main concern.

“If we have a government that is ready to make changes, it will be better for the next generation,” said Rousseau, adding that she liked what he had to say.

“I think I am going to vote for him,” she said.

While some of the election discussion has shifted toward the scenarios in which either the Liberals or Conservatives would be able to form a minority government, Trudeau refused to weigh in, saying he remains focused on winning a strong Liberal government.

That was the message he delivered to enthusiastic Liberal supporters at a rally in Montreal Thursday night, where a few Quebec flags joined the Canadian ones in the crowd.

The rally suffered technical difficulties, as the sound system cut out before Sophie Gregoire Trudeau got up on stage to deliver her remarks, leading her to shout instead.

But the Liberals were feeling good about the event, which took place in the riding of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, currently represented by Alexandre Boulerice, the NDP deputy leader.

They said the door counters recorded about 2,000 people were there, joined by 37 Liberal candidates from across Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2019.

Joanna Smith, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Trudeau sidesteps questions about Obama, pleads for progressive votes in Quebec

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