Apologies from the Liberal Leader during a flight between campaign stops yesterday.
A photo from 2001 has surfaced, showing Trudeau dressed as Aladdin while attending an end of year Arabian Nights themed gala. His costume included brown makeup on his face.
He told members of the press that he was deeply sorry and that he should have known better.
“I shouldn’t have done that. I should have known better, but I didn’t and I am really sorry. I deeply regret that I did that. It was something that I didn’t think was racist at the time, but now I recognize it was something racist to do, and I am deeply sorry,” Trudeau told reporters.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, the only Federal party leader who is a person of colour, responded to the photo.
“The kids that see this image, the people that see this image, are going to think about all the times in their life that they were made fun of, that they were hurt, that they were hit, that they were insulted, that they were made to feel less because of who they are,” he said.
“I want you to know that you might feel like giving up on Canada, you might feel like giving up on yourselves. I want you to know that you have value, you have worth and you are loved, and I don’t want you to give up on Canada and please don’t give up on yourselves.”