Justin Trudeau heckled and booed at youth labour forum in Ottawa

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was booed and heckled as he answered questions at a youth labour forum in Ottawa today.

Participants protested the prime minister by turning their backs, and some chanted “keep your promises” while Trudeau spoke.

Protesters still standing with backs turned to PM #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/h6Zd0JXD4X

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) October 25, 2016

Many of those in attendance were disappointed in the Government’s support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

But Trudeau did not ignore the criticism.

When one woman in the crowd yelled out that Trudeau was “acting like Harper,” the prime minister responded directly to her.

“Actually the approach I am willing to take is one where I am engaging with you, listening, to you, working hard to understand that both environment and economy go together. That labour is an essential partner in how we create good jobs for the middle class. Not believing that a trickle down economy was the way to go,” Trudeau said, while some of the audience cheered him on.

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Trudeau also told those who turned their backs to him, that he was disappointed that they were unwilling to listen to what he had to say.

“It doesn’t mean we are always going to agree on everything. But it does mean that we should keep talking,” Trudeau said. “And again, the symbol you’re sending of turning your backs to someone who is engaging with you and listening to your questions is maybe not the right one that all of you should be sending. But that is your choice and you’re free to do it.”

In response, some members of the crowd shouted “you turned your backs on us,” at the prime minister.

Last week, Trudeau was also heckled after leaving a meeting with Mayor Fred Eisenberger in Hamilton, Ontario.

A woman claiming to be protesting pipelines approached the prime minister and proceeded to throw pumpkin seeds at his face. The woman was later identified as former Green party candidate Ute Schmid-Jones. She has since been taken in for questioning by the RCMP.