Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is rejecting NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s proposal to bar Donald Trump from attending the G7 summit taking place this spring in Canada.
Trudeau’s planned resignation means he will not be Canada’s prime minister when world leaders arrive in Kananaskis, Alta., in June. Nevertheless, he called the idea “facile.”
“I think it’s easy for politicians to toss out easy and shocking things to say. We see a lot of that around the world these days,” Trudeau told reporters at a news conference in Montreal on Thursday.
“I’m not someone who thinks that’s a responsible way to lead a country or even carry an important political dialogue.”
When asked about NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s calls to uninvite U.S. President Donald Trump from the G7 summit in Canada this June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it’s easy for politicians to toss out shocking things to say.
On Wednesday, Singh called for the U.S. president to be uninvited from the major summit of world leaders.
“Why would we invite someone who threatens our sovereignty and economic well-being? Why would we invite someone who threatens the economic well-being of allies and threatens the world’s stability? Why would we allow a convicted criminal into our country?” Singh said in a statement.
Singh issued a statement Thursday shortly after Trudeau’s comments.
“Appeasement doesn’t work … Mr. Trump has been very clear his goal is economic dominance through threats, trade wars and making Canada the 51st state,” Singh said.
“The G7 should be used as an opportunity for nations to work together to resist Trump.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he wants U.S. President Donald Trump banned from attending the G7 summit in Alberta later this year because of the threats he has made on Canada’s sovereignty.
The G7 comprises seven of the world’s wealthiest countries and the European Union.
Its presidency rotates between countries each year, culminating in a leaders’ summit. Canada will host its summit from June 15 to 17.
The prime minister’s comments echo those of Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who said Singh’s proposal made “very little sense” and called on the NDP leader to find new advisers who could offer more thoughtful positions.
While Singh’s comments make little sense to the Liberals, they seem to have struck a chord among some Canadians.
NDP MP Charlie Angus sponsored a petition from an Albertan calling on the Canadian government to refuse Trump entry to Canada because of his criminal conviction and actions in office. That petition now has more than 44,000 signatures.
Angus is also supporting a petition to strip Trump ally Elon Musk of his Canadian citizenship.
