Whether it hurts his re-election chances remains to be seen, but images of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dressed up with a darkened face, and the controversy they have generated, have dominated Canadian media for the past few days.
The controversy surfaced Sept. 18 with a Time Magazine publication of a photo from a 2001 yearbook from the West Point Grey Academy, a Vancouver private school where Trudeau taught, of an Arabian Nights-themed gala. The photo shows Trudeau dressed as Aladdin, in blackface and a turban.
A similar photo from that event surfaced, along with an image of Trudeau at a Jean-de-Brébeuf school talent show singing Day O and wearing makeup, along with a separate video of Trudeau, again in blackface.
The images have generated no shortage of controversy, Trudeau being labelled a ‘hypocrite’ by critics, given his championing of multiculturalism.
“The Prime Minister made his apology and he was very sincere, and he was sorry for what he did,” said Sault MP Terry Sheehan, speaking to SooToday.
“I’ve been hearing about it as I’ve been campaigning and knocking on doors. I’m hearing from various cultural communities that they believe him. An immigrant approached me and said ‘Terry, we accept his apology and we really appreciate what he did in welcoming Syrian refugees.’ That’s the feedback that I’ve been hearing.”
Sheehan said the feedback and concerns he’s been hearing as he campaigns for re-election as Sault MP centre primarily around the economy and job creation, pointing to the Liberal government’s support for Algoma Steel and Tenaris.
“I saw the images (of Trudeau with a darkened face) and we were all taken aback by them, but the Prime Minister was very quick to apologize. It was a heartfelt apology. I’m getting feedback from a lot of people and they appreciate what he has done for Canada as a whole,” Sheehan said.
“I’m glad he apologized and has learned from his mistake. He’s been a champion people have recognized for welcoming refugees, and I’ve seen the reports that we have a very high retention rate for refugees and immigrants in Sault Ste. Marie because we have a kind, caring and compassionate community. We’re going to keep working to build a community that works together.”