Category Archives: Justin Trudeau

Canadian elections: can Justin Trudeau hold on to power? – video explainer

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The Canadian prime minister’s progressive shine is looking tarnished and shop-worn as the country heads to the polls on 21 October  –  and Justin Trudeau is now in the fight of his political life.

In 2015, Trudeau was a proudly progressive candidate who promised to fight the climate crisis, repair a broken relationship with indigenous people and resettle Syrian refugees, but fours years of scandals have left young voters uncertain of Trudeau’s promise to do politics differently, as the Guardian’s Canada correspondent, Leyland Cecco, explains

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Threat to Justin Trudeau ‘troubling’ sign, say rivals

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Canadian PM forced to wear bulletproof vest at campaign rally after security fears

The main rivals to Canada’s Liberal prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said a threat that forced him to wear a bulletproof vest at an election rally was a concerning sign for the country’s democracy.

Trudeau arrived 90 minutes late to the rally outside Toronto wearing bulky protection under his shirt, a Reuters witness said, after receiving a security threat.

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Canada leaders’ debate: tarnished Trudeau puts climate crisis at heart of election

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PM immediately targeted over blackface scandal but says choice is about two parties with ‘very different views’ on global heating

On a crowded stage where debate often devolved into a cacophony of crosstalk, Canada’s federal leaders – including a fringe far-right candidate – have sought to sway voters before the country’s election.

Over two hours, federal political leaders lobbed the majority of their attacks at the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, in the only official English language debate before 21 October.

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Trudeau appeal could block billions in compensation to Indigenous children

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Government to appeal ruling that found youth were ‘wilfully and recklessly harmed’ under welfare system

The government of Justin Trudeau will appeal a court ruling that found Indigenous youth were “wilfully and recklessly” harmed under national child welfare policies, in a move that could block billions of dollars in compensation.

In September, the Canadian human rights tribunal found that the federal government’s on-reserve child welfare system unfairly discriminated against Indigenous youth, severely underfunding their care.

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Is it over for Justin Trudeau? – podcast

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The Canadian prime minister achieved a historic victory in 2015 but as he nears the end of his first term a series of scandals are making his political future less certain. With elections next month, journalist Leyland Cecco discusses how likely it is Trudeau will repeat his initial success. And: Kaitlyn Regehr on why new sex education lessons in schools are already outdated

As Justin Trudeau looks to renew his parliamentary majority in a forthcoming federal election, a series of scandals have made his political future uncertain. Most recently, the publication of a series of images showing Trudeau in blackface forced the Canadian prime minister to admit he could not recall how many times he had worn it.

Toronto-based journalist Leyland Cecco talks to Rachel Humphreys about Trudeau’s first term in office and whether he can rescue his campaign to win a second – opinion polls shows him in a tight race against his Conservative rival.

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Greta Thunberg meets Justin Trudeau amid climate strikes: ‘He is not doing enough’

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Teen has private meeting with Canadian prime minister, who later says he ‘agrees with her completely’

The teen activist Greta Thunberg has urged Justin Trudeau and other world leaders to do more for the environment as she led half a million protesters in Montreal as part of a global wave of “climate strikes.”

The 16-year-old Swede met privately with the Canadian prime minister but later told a news conference with local indigenous leaders that he was “not doing enough” to curb greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

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Is a huge Montreal building project pushing out Trudeau’s poorest constituents?

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Residents of city’s Parc-Ex district, one of Canada’s poorest areas, and part of Justin Trudeau’s own electoral district, say a new university campus is driving them out

Parc-Extension in Papineau, Quebec, is one of Canada’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods. Of the approximately 30,000 people who live in Parc-Ex, 61% were born outside Canada. The area is one of the country’s poorest: 43% of households live below the poverty line, perhaps a somewhat surprising fact given that it is also part of the riding (electoral district) represented by the Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau .

Despite being located in the centre of bustling Montreal, Parc-Ex feels isolated and is physically closed off from the rest of the city by borders on all sides. There’s a highway to the north, a large park to the east, train tracks to the south and a fence to the west, built by a posher neighbouring borough.

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Trudeau’s blackface photos are awful – but then so are many of his policies | Arwa Mahdawi

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The Canadian prime minister is no monster, but he has spent years basking in a progressive image he doesn’t deserve

Justin Trudeau has had a colourful few days, hasn’t he? First there was a picture of him in brownface. Then there was a picture of him in blackface, which was swiftly followed by another picture of him in blackface. Then, as everyone was wondering how many more pictures of Trudeau in racist makeup there could possibly be, he admitted he wasn’t sure himself. He is just really fond of dressing up, you know? An overenthusiastic sort of guy. He is super-apologetic about the whole thing, but can’t everyone just lighten up?

Anyway, you know what this sorry saga is (apart from a huge blow to Trudeau’s #wokeboy brand)? It is what mummy bloggers like to call a “teachable moment”. And it shouldn’t teach Trudeau only how incredibly unacceptable and upsetting blackface is.

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David Lammy blames Trudeau’s blackface outfit on ‘racist tropes’

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Labour MP says Canadian PM’s scandal reveals ‘even liberal leaders’ succumb to racism

The Labour MP David Lammy has blamed the decision by Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, to blacken his face at a party on pervasive racist tropes that even “liberal leaders” succumb to, as he made calls to tackle white supremacy and privilege.

Speaking at a fringe event at the party’s conference in Brighton, the anti-racism campaigner spoke out about old pictures that have emerged of Trudeau in blackface, including one of him dressed up for an Arabian Nights themed gala while still a teacher in 2001.

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How will Justin Trudeau’s blackface photos affect Canada’s election?

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Incident has landed the prime minister in hot water as his Liberal party fights to secure another term in a tightly contested election

Canadians have long been aware that Justin Trudeau likes to dress up.

His tendency to appropriate dress and customs from other cultures has prompted gentle mockery from rival politicians and the media: on a trip to India last year, he was photographed in a kurta on numerous occasions. He has Indigenous art tattooed his shoulder. He wears Ramadan socks and dances to bhangra music.

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Justin Trudeau says he does not remember how many times he wore blackface – video

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Justin Trudeau has apologised for the second time in 24 hours for wearing blackface – but said he was unable to confirm whether there were further instances yet to come to light. The Canadian prime minister claimed he was 'wary about being definitive' about how many times he had done so. Trudeau said he recognised his behaviour had been 'absolutely unacceptable' and caused hurt to minority communities.

Trudeau's re-election campaign was rocked when Time magazine published an image of him wearing blackface at a 2001 'Arabian nights' party. In an apology, Trudeau admitted to wearing blackface while at high school. Hours later, Global News published a video appearing to show a separate incident with Trudeau wearing dark skin makeup on his face, arms and legs.

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‘Not fit to govern’: opposition leaders react to Trudeau blackface images – video

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Justin Trudeau has been branded 'hurtful' and 'hypocritical' by leaders of Canada's main opposition parties after images emerged of him in blackface.

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the Canadian New Democrats, said they showed a pattern of behaviour that 'makes light of the struggles people face' and raised questions about Trudeau's character. Andrew Scheer, leader of the Canadian Conservatives, said Trudeau had 'lost the moral authority to govern'.

Time magazine published an image of Trudeau wearing blackface as part of an Aladdin costume at a 2001 function at a school where he was teaching. Trudeau apologised and also acknowledged another incident where he had worn blackface during high school. Hours later, Global News published a video clip, apparently of another incident in which he had worn dark skin makeup.

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Trudeau says he can’t recall how many times he wore blackface makeup

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Footage emerges of third instance of Canadian prime minister in blackface, with one month to go before election

• How will Justin Trudeau’s blackface photos affect Canada’s election?

Justin Trudeau is scrambling to halt further damage to his re-election campaign after a string of racist images from his past put Canada’s image-conscious prime minister at the centre of yet another scandal.

Less than five weeks before the federal election on 21 October, the Liberal leader’s campaign was rocked when images emerged of Trudeau wearing blackface makeup.

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Justin Trudeau brownface: Canada PM apologises after image emerges

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Canadian prime minister says he deeply regrets image from 2001 party, which emerges weeks out from election

Justin Trudeau has apologised for wearing brownface makeup to a party when he was a teacher in 2001, saying “it was a racist thing to do”.

A photograph of Trudeau dressed in a turban and robes with brown makeup on his face, neck and hands, was published by Time magazine on Wednesday. It was taken when he was 29, while working as a teacher at West Point Grey Academy.

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Polarised Canada to fire starting gun for October general election

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  • Justin Trudeau to request dissolution of parliament
  • ‘Divisions have never been starker’ before 21 October polling day

Campaigning for Canada’s federal election on 21 October will formally begin on Wednesday, as Justin Trudeau seeks a second parliamentary majority amid an increasingly divided electorate.

The prime minister will meet the governor general, Julie Payette, at 10am EST to officially request the dissolution of parliament and commence the country’s election, sending party leaders on the gruelling task of crisscrossing the vast country to pitch to voters.

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Justin Trudeau seeks to repeat 2015 surge as Canada braces for election

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The prime minister is likely to call a vote for next month in which the environment, populism and Trump are all expected to feature

With the aura of his star power fading, the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and his governing Liberal party are aiming to extend their parliamentary majority for another four years.

Related: Justin Trudeau: the rise and fall of a political brand

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Ocasio-Cortez leads critics of video showing Ivanka Trump G20 chat

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  • First daughter attempts to talk with May, Macron and more
  • New York Democrat laments damage to ‘diplomatic standing’

The French government on Saturday released a brief clip of a discussion at the G20 summit in Osaka involving four world leaders – and Ivanka Trump.

Related: Ivanka Trump says stepping into North Korea was 'surreal'

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Trudeau approves contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion

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Construction to start this year, Canadian prime minister says, despite opposition from environmental and Indigenous groups

Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau has once again approved a hotly contested proposal to expand the crude oil pipeline it bought last year, providing hope for a depressed energy industry but angering environmental and Indigenous groups which have fiercely opposed the project.

Construction on the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline is planned to start this year, Trudeau told a news conference on Tuesday. A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said earlier that Ottawa expected legal challenges to the approval.

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Canada will ban ‘harmful’ single-use plastics as early as 2021

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Justin Trudeau said his government is drawing inspiration from EU in planning ban on water bottles, plastic bags and straws

Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021, Justin Trudeau said on Monday.

The prime minister said the specific items to be banned will be determined based on a science-based review, but the government is considering items such as water bottles, plastic bags and straws.

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