Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused a Jewish member of the opposing Conservative Party of standing “with people who wave swastikas” during a session of Parliament Wednesday.
Trudeau made the comment in response to criticism from Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman over his handling of anti-vaccine mandate protesters that have held a weeks-long demonstration in downtown Ottawa over restrictive COVID-19 mandates and measures.
Lantsman began her remarks quoting several lines from a speech Trudeau gave in 2015 celebrating his Liberal Party’s control of Parliament. “A positive, optimistic, hopeful vision of public life isn’t a naive dream; it can be a powerful force for change,” Trudeau said. “If Canadians are to trust their government, their government needs to trust Canadians.”
“Those are the words of the prime minister in 2015,” Lantsman said before contrasting Trudeau in 2015 with recent comments the prime minister has made about the protesters.
“‘These people – very often misogynistic, racist, women-haters, science deniers, the fringe.’ Same prime minister six years later as he fans the flames of an unjustified national emergency. So Mr. Speaker, when did the prime minister lose his way? When did it happen?” Lantsman asked.
Trudeau responded: “Mr. Speaker, Conservative Party members can stand with people who wave swastikas. They can stand with people who wave the Confederate flag. We will choose to stand with Canadians who deserve to be able to get to their jobs, to be able to get their lives back. These illegal protests need to stop and they will, Mr. Speaker.”
Trudeau’s response sparked a raucous outcry from opposition lawmakers as they shouted at the prime minister for denigrating the protesters and Conservative Party members.
Lantsman called the comments “unbecoming” before launching into her rebuttal and pointing out that Trudeau has yet to justify his use of the Emergencies Act to Parliament. Trudeau accused the Conservative Party of supporting “illegal blockades” against Canadians.
Later, Lantsman demanded an apology from the prime minister. “I think the Prime Minister should think long and hard about his own history before singling out a Jewish Member of Parliament and falsely accusing me of standing with a Swastika. What a disgraceful statement unbecoming of anyone in public office – he owes me an apology,” she posted on Twitter.
I think the Prime Minister should think long and hard about his own history before singling out a Jewish Member of Parliament and falsely accusing me of standing with a Swastika. What a disgraceful statement unbecoming of anyone in public office – he owes me an apology. #cdnpoli
— Melissa Lantsman (@MelissaLantsman) February 16, 2022
Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Monday as a “last resort” to break the weeks-long demonstration that has continued in downtown Ottawa. As the protesters have continued, Trudeau has faced increasing pressure from within his own party and from various heads of Canadian provinces to ease COVID-19 rules.
Premiers Jason Kenney of Alberta and Scott Moe of Saskatchewan signed a letter Wednesday along with 16 U.S. state governors calling on Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden to drop the cross border vaccine mandate for truckers. The officials cited the strain the mandate has placed on supply lines between the countries still struggling to return to normal.
The Daily Wire’s first original film, Shut In, has made its cinematic debut, being met with rave reviews. The Daily Wire is building an alternative to the leftist entertainment industry, one gripping movie at a time. Join us in this mission and stream Shut In today by becoming a Daily Wire member.