Trudeau Rejects Call to Apologize for Condemning ‘Hate’ on Day of Parental Rights Protest

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 4, 2023. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rebuked a call from the Muslim Association of Canada to apologize for his social media post condemning “hate and its manifestations” on the day that thousands of parents and other citizens marched in cities across Canada for more parental rights in schools.

“I am going to continue to work to bring people together, and to make sure our kids are protected while standing up for everyone’s rights,” Mr. Trudeau said during a press conference on Oct. 5.

“This is something that is core to Canada; that we defend each other’s rights and we support each other.”

Mr. Trudeau added that he had “never suggested that someone who’s concerned about parental rights is somehow filled with hate or intolerance.” The prime minister said that when expression of hatred or intolerance arose, whether against Muslims or members of the LGBT community, the federal government would be “firm in standing against intolerance.”

“Anyone who’s trying to politicize or spin this as an attack on one particular group is trying to divide communities against each other. We are a government and a party that will always stand against intolerance, wherever it is,” he said.

On Sept. 26, the Muslim Association of Canada asked for the prime minister and others to apologize for their comments regarding the cross-Canada “Million March 4 Children” protests.

“By alienating the peaceful protests of thousands of concerned parents as hateful, Canadian leaders and school boards are setting a dangerous precedent of using their position of influence to unjustly demonize families, and alienate countless students,” the group said in a statement.

Opposition to Gender Ideology

On Sept. 20, thousands of people marched across the country in protest against the teaching of gender ideology in schools and calling for the rights of parents to have primacy over their children, as opposed to schools and governments. On the same day, Mr. Trudeau posted on the social media site X, saying, “Transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia have no place in this country.”

“We strongly condemn this hate and its manifestations, and we stand united in support of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians across the country—you are valid and you are valued,” he added, without naming the protests specifically.

In July, the prime minister claimed that many Muslim parents had fallen prey to “misinformation and disinformation” being spread by what he called the “far-right” in the United States.

“That is something that is being weaponized by people who are not doing it because of their interest in supporting the Muslim community. These are people on the far-right who have consistently stood against Muslim rights and the Muslim community,” he told a Muslim parent in Calgary while visiting a mosque.

Those comments by the prime minister came amid a backlash among parents against gender ideology being taught in schools, with the activities of Pride Month leading to school walkouts and protests taking place across Canada.