When asked whether he went too far in accusing a Quebec woman of intolerance during a campaign-style rally in Montreal last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned against sticking to the politics of division, which he said are creating a "dangerous path" for the country.
He promised to "be very clear when people are trying to push politics of fear and indeed, intolerance."
"That's something Canadians expect of me," Trudeau pointed out.
READ MORE: Canada's Trudeau Appoints a Border Security Minister to Deal with Migration
During last week's Quebec rally, the woman repeatedly asked Trudeau in French when he will refund "your illegal immigrants," something that was followed by the Canadian Prime Minister responding that "intolerance towards immigrants has no place in Canada" and that "your racism has no place here."
The incident took place amid criticism over the Trudeau government's inability to pay back the province of Quebec for the millions of dollars it has spent to handle thousands of asylum seekers that have crossed into the area over the past 18 months.
Canada has been noted as welcoming immigrants during the current global refugee crisis. Ottawa is planning on accepting some 310,000 permanent residents this year and has stated its intention to increase that number to 340,000 by 2020.
READ MORE: Trudeau to Apologize for Canada's Decision to Reject Jewish Refugees in 1939
Twitter users have, meanwhile, remained at loggerheads over Trudeau's "racism" jab, with one netizen claiming that there is no" wrong with that", while another calling Trudeau "a fanatic dictator who imposes his moral values on everyone."
Behind his cool aspect he is a fanatic dictator who imposes his moral values on everyone and who does not take care of the economy of the country. US is demolishing us for Alena's agreement and all he does is preaching he own moral values to everyone. He is a preacher not a PM
— Charles Darwin (@CDarwin3270) 20 августа 2018 г.
Look….when people stop using the divisive politics of hate and fear…then Trudeau will stop calling them racists. It's simple.
— Somewhat Displeased. (@DoogerNorth) 20 августа 2018 г.
In the simplist terms however unlikely, she may have been asking about money, Trudeau jumps to racism.
— Allan Nadler (@allannadler) 20 августа 2018 г.
Trudeau was right to shut her down on the spot! She was a hired plant looking to embarrass and heckle the PM of Canada.
— Punchus Pillattes (@micamacpaddywac) 21 августа 2018 г.
He said "your racism has no place here". What is so wrong with that. She was laying into him over asylum seekers. She was being racist. And he gets slagged off.??
— Sandra Meldrum (@afternemo) 21 августа 2018 г.
The big problem with Trudeau is his govt spends taxpayer money with little regard for the future and is driving out investment in Canada..We are in for big economic problems so he focuses on tolerance racism diversity
— Bonita Campbell (@bonbon448) 21 августа 2018 г.
