Politicians in the Battlefords-Lloydminster riding disapprove of Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau after photos and video of him wearing racist makeup surfaced.
Conservative candidate Rosemarie Falk responded to the controversy in an email to Mylloydminsternow.com.
“I was shocked to learn of the multiple incidents of Justin Trudeau in blackface and brownface. It brings into question yet again his judgement and common sense.”
The first photo was released on September 18 by TIME Magazine showing Trudeau dressed as Aladdin wearing brownface makeup in 2001. The second image showed Trudeau singing Day O in blackface makeup at a highschool talent show. Also, a video surfaced of him in blackface makeup in the 1990s.
Trudeau has since apologized for the images. At his campaign launch, People’s Party of Canada candidate Jason McInnis says the Liberal party is losing favour with Canadians.
“They’ve never had a lot of favour out here to begin with and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I do see them losing a lot of favour out east. They are the party that is promoting the virtues of being nice to everybody but then they are the ones found breaking it in the dumbest of ways.”
Green Party candidate David Kim-Cragg, in an email to Mylloydminsternow.com, says Trudeau is responsible for his own actions but the incident provides society with an opportunity to take a more in-depth look at racism in the country.
“Justin Trudeau’s history of wearing brown and blackface is not something that anyone should make light of. It highlights a history of systematic racism in our political system, some of it overt and some unintentional. This moment is an opportunity, not for mudslinging and political opportunism, but to take measure of our society and engage in an important conversation.”
Kim-Cragg says it’s important to listen to the voices of people hurt by racism and when the election ends racism will still be a problem.
Mylloydminsternow.com reached out to NDP candidate Marcella Pedersen and Liberal candidate Larry Ingram for comment, but both were unavailable by deadline.