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EDITORIAL: No the prime minister is not a racist, move on

LetÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s be very clear about this.
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LetÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s be very clear about this.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not a racist.

Admittedly, it would be nice if pictures of him wearing dark face and body make up would stop popping up and making headline news.

But to call him a racist, thatÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s simply unsupportable.

The Liberal government under Trudeau has championed numerous initiatives underscoring the point.

In 2015 Trudeau appointed the most ethnically and socially diverse cabinet in the countryÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s history, naming equal numbers of men and women, and elevating CanadaÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s first ever Muslim minister and first ever aboriginal justice minister.

He has been outspoken on his opposition towards QuebecÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s ban of religious symbols and clothing for public servants including police officers and judges.

Earlier this year the feds announced a $45 million anti-racism strategy that includes giving money directly to communities to combat discrimination. There is a new program aimed at increasing diversity in the federal public service, and an ongoing commitment to the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent which, among other things, earmarks $25 million for local projects to celebrate Black Canadians.

Viola Desmond - the Black Canadian who sat in the whiteÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s only section of a theatre in New Glasgow in 1946 - is now remembered on our $10 bill.

There are some who look to these achievements and accuse the Prime Minister of hypocrisy, suggesting the photos that surfaced last week show his ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œtrue colors.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

Hypocrisy swings both ways. Trudeau has political rivals who ought to think a hundred times before playing the racist card, regardless of what must be their possession of non-offensive school yearbooks.

Are the photos unfortunate?

Of course.

Do they make Trudeau a racist?

Absolutely not. Move on Canada.

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andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com

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