Prime Minister Justin Trudeau caused an uproar from several members of the Canadian House of Commons after accusing the Conservative Party of “standing with people who wave swastikas.”
PM Trudeau has been under scrutiny since invocating the Emergencies Act to block trucker protestors who are voicing outrage over vaccine mandates.
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman had the floor Wednesday in the Canadian House of Commons when she used Trudeau’s own words to make a point.
“ ‘Positive, optimistic, hopeful vision for public life isn’t a naïve dream. It can be a powerful force for change. If Canadians are going to trust their government, their government needs to trust Canadians.’ Those are the words of the Prime Minister in 2015.”
Lantsman then quotes a recent comment from Trudeau where he describes members of the Freedom Convoy as “very often misogynistic, racist, women-haters, science-deniers, the fringe.” She argues that the PM has been fanning “the flames of an unjustified national emergency,” then asks “When did the prime minister lose his way?”
The Prime Minister, who is part of the Liberal Party, responded by justifying that his party is standing with Canadians, not bigots.
“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.”
Trudeau’s response caused the other side of the chamber to erupt in disapproval of his comment.
Lantsman, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, quickly demanded an apology for the appalling remark.
“I am a strong Jewish woman and a member of this House and a descendant of Holocaust survivors and … it’s never been singled out, and I’ve never been made to feel less. Except for today, when the prime minister accused me of standing with swastikas. I think he owes me an apology. I’d like an apology and I think he owes an apology to all members of this House.”
Trudeau had left the chamber prior to the Lantsman’s demand.
