Justin Trudeau speaks only French at Sherbrooke town hall, despite English questions

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauansweredquestions ranging from local concerns about public transit to tabling new federal pot legislation at Tuesday night's town hall in Sherbrooke, Que.,and he answered them all in Frenchbecause, he said, "we're in Quebec."

A woman asked inEnglish what would be done to help Anglo-Quebecers seeking mental health serviceswhen those services are onlyavailable in French.

"Thank you for your use of both official languages," Trudeaureplied in French.

"But we're in a French province so I will answer in French," he answered,as the woman grew visibly annoyed.

"All people who speak one of the two official languages should feel comfortable across the country," he said, in French, while highlighting the federal government'sinvestment in health.

Trudeau answers English question in French because 'we're in Quebec'

8 years ago

Duration 0:52

At Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Sherbooke town hall, Judy Ross asked a question in English about access to mental health services for Anglo-Quebecers. Trudeau answered in French because "we're in Quebec."

Not everyone fazed

Trudeau spoke exclusively in French, despite a half dozen English questions.

Some in the crowd seemed surprised by the prime minister's decision.

• LATEST ON THIS STORY:Trudeau faces heat over decision to speak French only at town hall

But recent Afghan immigrant Abdullah Hakiemie was too excited to meet his hero to be fazed by a French answer.

"He supports every human being on this planet, and I'm very happy to be a Canadian and to support Mr. Trudeau, and I will support him in every possible way," saidHakiemie.

'We're all so diverse'

Later, a woman wearing a hijabread from notes, in broken English, asking on behalf of all Canadian Muslims if Trudeau would consider giving them a public holiday forEid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end ofthe Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan.

He answered in French that Canadians' differences are theirstrength and that embracing those differences enriches our country whether they be historic differencesbetween the French and English, or more recently with refugees being welcomedinto Canada.

"Here in Canada, it's hard to call a certain group 'other,' because we are all so diverse," he said.

He did not comment on adding a national holiday to the calendar.

Pot legislation

Meanwhile, Guillaume Gagnon, whoworks inmarijuana research and lobbying, asked for details about the tabling of new marijuana legislation due in the spring.

Trudeau said he aims to introduce new lawwhich would make it harder for youth to get access to marijuana.

"It's easier for a 16-year-old to buy a joint than a beer," he said. "Is there a black market for beer in Quebec? No."

He said the legislation would aimto eliminate the black market and criminal elements from the buying and selling of marijuana.

"Be patient. Changes are coming," he told the crowd of roughly 1,000people.

Most of the attendees who asked questions came from Sherbrooke and its surrounding cities, but some came from as far as Lac-Mgantic, about 100 kilometres east.

Business with Trump administration

There was concern from members of the audience over how Canada's economic relationship with the U.S. would be affected by the incoming Trump administration.

President-elect Donald Trump promised voters he would bring jobs back to the U.S., with talk of increased border tariffs on imported goods stokingfears of damage to Canada's import and export markets.

Trudeau stressed that his government would work with the incoming administration to protect the working class on both sides of the border.

"Our economies are thoroughly integrated. Many industries in the U.S. benefit from strong trade ties with Canada."

With regardto preserving Canada's supply-managementdairy industry which was recently targeted by U.S. dairy groups, Trudeau said he would strongly defend Canadian farmers and Canadian economic interests.

He highlighted the investment of $350 million into Canada's dairy sector after signing the Canada-EU trade deal, which created extra competition from foreign cheese imports.

Tour continues

Trudeau is taking the pulse of Canadians in a series of town hall meetings across the country, opting to skip the World Economic Forum's annual global political and business conference in Davos, Switzerland, an event he attended last year.

Sherbrooke was the first Quebec stop on the tour, which started last Thursday in eastern Ontario.

Earlier Tuesdayin New Brunswick, Trudeaufielded questions on a whole range of issues, including the troubled Phoenix payroll system,marijuana policy, protection of the environment, job creation and what Trudeau's daughter wants to be when she growsup.

"She is an eight-year-old princess or rock 'n' roll star," he said. "I impress on my daughter she can be whatever she wants.I also impress upon her brothers she can be whatever she wants."

Trudeau will be at Bishop's University in the province's Eastern Townships onWednesday morning, followed by a stop in Granby, Que.,at 11:40 a.m.

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