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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing criticism from Haitian community advocates after avoiding a question on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert about false claims that undocumented Haitian migrants in Canada were eating pets.
During the Sept. 23 interview, Colbert asked Trudeau, “And your cats and dogs are fine?”—a reference to a debunked statement made by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trudeau responded by saying, “I will move right past that one,” without addressing the claim.
Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying Trudeau missed an opportunity to publicly reject the baseless rumors, which have fueled anti-Haitian sentiment. Since Trump’s comments, some Haitian Canadians have reported experiencing discriminatory behavior, according to community groups. They noted that a response from the prime minister could have helped counter the rise in intolerance.
Despite the recent criticism, Trudeau has historically been supportive of Haiti. His government has been actively involved in addressing Haiti’s political crisis, most recently convening meetings with international partners to discuss stabilizing the country. Canada has also committed to supporting the Multinational Security Support Mission aimed at restoring security in Haiti, with Trudeau repeatedly highlighting Canada’s role in bringing together global efforts to assist the Haitian people.
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