The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau smiled and waved during his latest visit to Vancouver, but didn’t stop to answer questions on a number of issues facing Canadians.
Trudeau joined the city’s Lunar New Year celebrations yesterday–participating in a blessing ceremony before a traditional lion dance, then leading a parade through Vancouver’s historic Chinatown.
Steady rain pelted the marchers and kept crowds along the route thin, but Trudeau continued smiling, waving, and wishing the hundreds of onlookers a happy new year.
He did not answer questions reporters shouted to him along the parade route.
He left questions about a controversial American travel ban on citizens from seven countries to his immigration minister, who held a news conference yesterday afternoon in Ottawa.
The prime minister’s visit follows a string of town hall meetings in communities across the country.
British Columbia was noticeably absent from the tour.
Trudeau last visited the province in December following the approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion that will triple the capacity of an existing pipeline that runs from near Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C.
It will increase tanker traffic seven-fold within the densely-populated Burrard Inlet.
Trudeau downplayed questions about lengthy protests related to the project when meeting with local media last month.
He said some people will disagree with the decision to approve the project, and expressing that disagreement is part of the democratic process.
But he also defended the approval, saying, “We need to both protect the environment and build a stronger economy at the same time.”
Aaron Sam, chief of the Lower Nicola Indian Band near Merritt, said Trudeau should hold public discussions in B.C.
The Trans Mountain pipeline crosses through the band’s territory and members will be voting next month whether they should approve an agreement with Kinder Morgan.
Like much of the country, Sam said attitudes toward the pipeline are varied in his community.
He noted he raised concerns about how the pipeline and its related tanker traffic will affect the salmon population the community relies on, but doesn’t feel the federal government has taken those concerns seriously.
