Trudeau roasted for tweet to Trevor Noah pledging $50M to charity

Dec 4 2018, 1:38 am

Justin Trudeau is being criticized for a tweet he sent to Trevor Noah, telling the comedian  Canada would pledge a whopping $50 million for children’s education.

At the time, Noah was in Johannesburg, South Africa, hosting the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, a star-studded charity concert honouring Nelson Mandela.

Jay-Z and Beyonce headlined the marathon 10-hour charity event at FNB Stadium, which was also attended by Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran. Part of the event mandate was to raise critically needed funds for legacy projects in Mandela’s honour, including poverty and education.

The Prime Minister tweeted to Noah that he regretted not being able to be there in person, but said Canada would pledge $50 million to Education Cannot Wait, a group that provides educational funds for young people living in conflict zones.

“Sorry I can’t be with you – but how about Canada pledges $50M to @EduCannotWait to support education for women & girls around the world? Work for you? Let’s do it,” Trudeau tweeted.

Critics were quick to seize on the tone and content of the social media message from the PM.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer accused the Prime Minister of making the hefty pledge in a tweet to impress the TV personality.

“Pledging $50 million in a tweet to impress a TV personality? Taxpayers need a defender not somebody who throws their money around to be popular with celebrities. This is how deficits become massive and permanent,” Scheer said.

The $50 million in aid promised by Trudeau is apparently not new money.  The director of communications for International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said it’s part of a larger $400 million pledge for girls’ education made earlier this year during the G7 Summit.

Darcy MathesonDarcy Matheson

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