Trudeau accused of promoting drug use ‘directly to children’ after Liberal leader discusses pot policy at school

Tristin Hopper

Justice Minister Peter MacKay is accusing Liberal leader Justin Trudeau of promoting recreational drug use “directly to children” after Mr. Trudeau discussed his party’s plans to legalize marijuana while speaking to a Brandon, Man., public school.

“He’s already sending children the message recreational drug use is OK. Now, he’s delivering that message directly to children,” wrote Mr. MacKay in a fundraising letter sent out on Thursday.

“That’s wrong, on so many different levels,” he wrote, adding that Mr. Trudeau’s “allies in the media” are “making excuses for his mistakes.”

The issue also appeared to dominate Mr. MacKay’s appearance at the final press conference of a gathering of provincial justice ministers in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Just as questions wrapped up on Thursday, Mr. MacKay interjected to call Mr. Trudeau’s actions “disgusting,” “appalling” and showing a “profound lack of judgement.”

Mr. Trudeau was in Brandon on Wednesday to offer support to the Liberal candidate running in one of four federal byelections.

According to a series of Tweets, including some from the managing editor of the Brandon Sun, Mr. Trudeau stopped in to a school in Sioux Valley, where he took some by surprise when he explained his stance on pot.

In fairness, James O’Connor, managing editor of the Brandon Sun newspaper wrote in a Twitter message, Mr. Trudeau was asked about it.

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