He didn’t make any announcements or take questions from the media, but spent time in the university’s daycare center talking to parents and children, then joined a crowd of more than 400 staff, students and Liberal supporters at a barbecue. About a dozen protesters waved flags and signs and shouted questions at the prime minister, but he ignored them, shaking hands and taking selfies. Claude Poirier traveled more than 200 kilometers from Cheticamp to see Trudeau. “We often see him on TV appearing all over the place and it’s not very often that he comes to Cape Breton,” Poirier said. “I’m really, really glad to see him.” Kima Hazelwood stood to the side, talking to friends, as a throng of people surrounded the prime minister. Hazelwood didn’t take a selfie with Trudeau, but she wished she had. “Absolutely. Too many crowds though,” he laughed. Trudeau talked about his government’s $10-a-day day care program during a visit to Cape Breton University. (Tom Ayers/CBC) Hazelwood said it was good to receive a visit from the head of government. “I think it’s important to see him here and at least talk to the people and their concerns,” he said. Darlene LeBlanc was one of about a dozen protesters carrying flags and signs with the group Freedom Nova Scotia. The group heard Trudeau would be at the university to talk about the $10-a-day day care program and wanted to ask a question, in light of high inflation making life difficult for people. “With all the high fuel prices, with the carbon taxes being added all the time, how are these families going to afford to take their kids to these childcare centers?” LeBlanc said. “We want to know if he’s going to get rid of this carbon tax so that Canadian families can survive, because right now they’re struggling to put food on the table.”
Peaceful protesters
George Karafillis, the retired dean of the university’s Shannon School of Business, said the crowd reaction was warm and the protesters were peaceful. “This is a law and order country and they have a right to protest, so they’re not bothering anyone right now, as far as I can see,” he said. “Nothing like what I see in other places.” The visit, although quite short and unannounced, was important for the island, Karafillis said. “He’s the top decision maker for the country and we’re a small community, but he took the time to come to Cape Breton and visit and talk to the people here.” After his stop at the university, Trudeau went to Potlotek to attend the Mi’kmaw Summer Games and meet with First Nation leaders.
