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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