Justin Trudeau never hid from crying in front of the cameras throughout his years as Prime Minister of Canada. Here are five events that brought tears to his eyes.
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1. Death of Queen Elizabeth II
With his eyes in the water, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II to Canadians on September 8, 2022.
“It is with great sadness that we learn today of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was our queen for almost half of Canada’s existence, and she had a clear and deep affection for all Canadians,” he told the media.
Mr. Trudeau met the Queen a few times during his life, including as the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
“She was one of my favorite people in the world, and I will miss her dearly,” he concluded, visibly moved.
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2. Apologies to Indigenous people
In 2019, the government asked forgiveness from the Inuit communities of Nord-du-Québec for its mismanagement of the tuberculosis crisis, which spanned from the 1940s to 1960s.
“Unfortunately, the government’s pernicious policy towards the tuberculosis epidemic is part of a long history of destructive colonialism,” lamented Justin Trudeau.
At that time, some 5,000 Inuit infected with tuberculosis were forcibly brought south for treatment, and many died on the way without being able to say goodbye to their loved ones. A policy that was not “accidental, but very intentional,” added Mr. Trudeau.
It was not the first time that the Prime Minister was emotional during an official apology to indigenous communities.
During a ceremony organized in December 2015 on the occasion of the submission of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the abuses at Indian residential schools, the testimonies of victims given before him made him emotional.
“The Government of Canada offers its most sincere apologies to the indigenous peoples for having so profoundly failed in its duty to them, and asks their forgiveness,” he said.
3. Apologies to LGBTQ+ communities
In November 2017, the federal government issued an official apology to members of the LGBTQ+ communities for the oppression, criminalization and systemic violence they suffered in the federal public service and the Canadian Armed Forces.
“It is with shame, sadness and deep regret for what we did that I stand here today to say we were wrong. That we apologize. I’m sorry. We are sorry,” Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons.
“Never again will we allow these actions to happen,” he concluded, moved to tears.
4. Death of Gord Downie
During a press conference in October 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could not hold back his tears when he addressed the death of Gord Downie, the singer of the Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip.
“He was my friend. Gordon was everyone’s friend,” he said.
Gord Downie has died from brain cancer.
5. Visit to Auschwitz
While in Poland in 2016, Justin Trudeau visited the Auschwitz concentration camp accompanied by members of the Jewish community.
As he toured the sites where more than 1.1 million people were killed, the prime minister wept several times, including during hugs with Canadian Auschwitz survivor Nate Leipciger and when a rabbi Montrealer said a prayer. He also shed a tear when he laid a wreath on behalf of Canada.
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