TORONTO -- NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says newly uncovered photographs showing Justin Trudeau in brownface and blackface are the latest sign that the Liberal leader鈥檚 actions do not always match his public persona.
鈥淭his raises questions about the sincerity of the prime minister, when he goes to events and says that multiculturalism is important and diversity is important 鈥 now people question the sincerity of that, and that鈥檚 very fair for people to do that,鈥 Singh said Thursday on CTV鈥檚 Your Morning.
TIME Magazine published a photo Wednesday showing Trudeau in brownface makeup at an 鈥淎rabian Nights鈥-themed party in 2001, at the Vancouver private school where Trudeau was teaching at the time. The Liberal leader confirmed that the photo was of him and apologized for wearing brownface, calling his actions racist.
Trudeau also admitted to wearing blackface while in high school. The Liberal Party has confirmed the existence of a video from the 1990s showing Trudeau wearing makeup that has darkened his skin.
Singh described these incidents as part of a 鈥減attern of behaviour鈥 that included Trudeau鈥檚 response in March to a protester who interrupted a Liberal Party fundraiser.
The protester from the Grassy Narrows First Nation in northern Ontario, which has been dealing with the effects of mercury poisoning for decades, called out to Trudeau during his speech, asking him what he would do about their community鈥檚 plight.
Trudeau responded by cheekily thanking the protester for making a donation to the party by attending the fundraiser. He later said he had demonstrated a 鈥渓ack of respect鈥 and apologized.
鈥淚nstead of responding to those folks and saying that we need help, he mocked them, made fun of them, and was applauded and cheered on by those attending this fundraiser,鈥 Singh said Thursday.
鈥淭hat to me shows the utter lack of compassion for humans that are going through mercury poisoning, and that to me really builds out a story that this is not an isolated incident 鈥 it鈥檚 a pattern of behaviour that Mr. Trudeau is very different behind closed doors than what he shows people in public.鈥
Singh said the photos of Trudeau would cause people of colour to recall instances of racism they have faced in the past and potentially question their place in Canada.
The NDP leader sidestepped a question on whether he personally feels Trudeau should resign, saying he would leave that up to the voters.
鈥淚 think people will answer that question,鈥 he said.
Asked at a campaign stop in Hamilton if he would shake Trudeau鈥檚 hand at the upcoming federal debates, Singh did not directly answer.
鈥淗ow do you respond to somebody, how do you look somebody in the eye that鈥檚 mocked the lived reality 鈥 that so many Canadians have lived? I think he鈥檚 got lots to answer for,鈥 he said.
