EDITOR:
I am writing in response to a Sept 20 CBC online article, “Trudeau says he never told candidate-vetting committee about blackface because he was embarrassed.” In 2001, Justin Trudeau went to a costume party and dressed up in “blackface.” The picture was found on the West Point Grey Academy newsletter. Trudeau told reporters, "It was not something that represents the person I've become, the leader I try to be and it was really embarrassing." According to the party's rule for vetting a candidate, the candidate is obligated to disclose any information that could impact him or his party at a later date.
In my opinion, he was wrong in doing it as well for not disclosing as that is political rule. But ideally, this was 18 years ago and he made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes when they are young and that was one of his. Although this should have been told to the public earlier, people need to look at the person he is now, not who he was 18 years ago. He shows how sorry and embarrassed he is by not even wanting to expose it to the public. As he says, "It was not something that represents the person I've become, the leader I try to be.” Trudeau made a big mistake in doing this, but it’s not the person he is today as he is one of the best prime ministers is Canadian history. Justin Trudeau made a mistake, yes, but we need to look past that and see the person he is today.
Paige MacLean (Three Oaks Senior High School),
Summerside
