THUNDER BAY – Local Liberal candidate Patty Hajdu says it’s unfortunate party leader Justin Trudeau chose to wear racist costumes in his not-too-distant past.
But the Thunder Bay-Superior North hopeful and former cabinet minister believes Trudeau’s apology was sincere and a step in the right direction.
“I think this is an important step that the prime minister has taken to acknowledge how much pain it’s caused for people that face overt and systemic racism in their everyday lives,” Hajdu said on Thursday, less than a day after Time magazine broke the news that Trudeau, in his previous life as a teacher, showed up in brown face at an Arabian Nights-themed party at the private school where he was employed in 2001.
Two other instances of the Liberal leader wearing inappropriate costumes have since been made public.
Asked if she thought Trudeau was still fit to be leader, Hajdu said everyone deserves a second chance.
“I think part of leadership is owning your mistakes. Part of leadership is admitting we all have episodes in our lives that we would rather not maybe done or we would have done differently if we had new information.
“I think back to when I was a teenager or in my 20s and I’m sure I said hurtful things and did things that were most likely not well received by the person on the other end.”
First-time Liberal candidate Marcus Powlowski, seeking the seat in Thunder Bay-Rainy River, said Trudeau owned up to the mistake and it’s time to move on.
“It was a big mistake and he very much regrets it and he’s unconditionally apologized. I’m not sure what more somebody can do under that situation.”
Conservative Frank Pullia, running to unseat Hajdu, was diplomatic in his response, calling it an unfortunate situation.
“We have to be accountable and responsible for our actions and the voters, at the end of the day, will decide.”
Green Party nominee Amanda Moddejonge, running in Thunder Bay-Rainy River, said Trudeau is starting to sound like a broken record.
“He seems to be making an awful lot of apologies all the time,” she said. “The words that he’s saying, I believe he actually means them. And he’s rehearsed them enough that it could be part of the reason he does believe them. I’m not really sure."
“I think it’s kind of important that we recognize the fact that it’s coming out now. These are pictures and images that have been available for a very long time that are only coming out now. So we’re only now finding out who the real Justin Trudeau is.”
Former MP Bruce Hyer, seeking to regain the Thunder Bay-Superior North seat he lost in 2015, was more harsh in his analysis.
“I’m very disappointed in him. Not once, not twice, but three times. I don’t think he’s really a racist, but I do think that Justin is entitled. He’s an entitled, rich white man and he disappoints me in many, many other ways which are far greater than this one,” Hyer said.
Thunder Bay-Superior North NDP hopeful Anna Betty Achneepineskum called the revelations hurtful.
“As an Indigenous person, I’m a person that believes in honouring people of all nations and genders. We are in a country where we should be living in harmony and respecting each other’s culture and ancestry. I am very hurt by this,” she said.
“I do realize it’s an old picture, but still, if you are a person who believes in respect and integrity, then that’s a value you live through all your life.”
Fellow NDP candidate Yuk-Sem Won (TB-RR) said she’s disappointed that Trudeau thought it was an appropriate costume choice.
“I feel bad because for people to be able to see their leader doing that and actually re-feel some of the racism they’ve experienced in their lifetime, that’s the biggest disappointment,” Won said. “His apology is there, but really, it shows the two sides, one that’s the public and one that is really who he really is.”
