An angry protester who claimed to represent the “world alternative media” called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “scumbag” as Trudeau tried to promote his $7 billion daycare scheme in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Wednesday.
“Shame on you and your globalist counterparts,” the man said as the prime minister’s security guards starting to close in on the individual.
“You’re scumbags. You are an absolute scumbag.”
The security retinue finally convinced the man to leave the room and escorted him off the premises. The exchange was captured on video.
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Trudeau’s communications team had arranged a photo op with a group of children to promote the daycare strategy but the kids missed the altercation by minutes.
Trudeau was in town to shore up support for his unpopular federal budget, which critics say has nothing new and savages military spending into the distant future. For the past week his government has endured attacks from the left and right over an annual financial statement that has seemed to please no one.
The House of Commons is in recess this week and Trudeau is spending his time trying to sell the budget to Canadians in a hastily organized cross-country tour.
Trudeau was at the Winnipeg YMCA-YWCA touting his daycare plan when the heckler emerged from the crowd, carrying a camcorder and shouting “scumbag” and “globalist” at Trudeau. The man insisted that Trudeau talk about the prime minister’s proposed carbon tax as Trudeau responded to questions about the federal budget.
Later that day, Trudeau did comment on the carbon tax and how his environmental policies will seemingly collide with those of President Donald Trump. “Canadian economic and environmental policy will be determined in Ottawa, not in Washington, D.C.,” Trudeau said in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The heckler, who was not identified by name, has established himself as an amateur ambush journalist who delights in confronting politicians at news conferences. He has also surprised Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger.
“These are the kinds of things that we need to do to ensure that every family has the opportunity to make the choices that are right for them,” he told reporters.
“Whether it’s going back to school, whether it’s looking for a new job, knowing that your kids are in the right hands, getting the support they need in early learning and child care — like we see right here at the Y — is a really important initiative for all of us.”
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