Justin Trudeau is warning voters to be wary of fearmongering about immigration, suggesting the issue will be a hot-button issue during the federal election campaign this fall.
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The prime minister made the prediction Thursday during a town hall meeting in northern New Brunswick, where a young Syrian refugee thanked him for allowing her family to come to Canada.
Speaking to a crowd of about 250 people at a high school in Miramichi, Trudeau reminded them that it was his Liberal government that granted asylum to 40,000 Syrian refugees in 2015-16.
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However, he told the audience there are people trying to create fear, intolerance and misinformation about immigration.
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Trudeau said anxiety about immigrants is creating a world that is more fearful, increasingly insular and closed off.
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He said he was looking forward to speaking with Canadians about immigration during the upcoming campaign.
So far this month, Trudeau has held town halls in St. Catharines, Ont.; Kamloops, B.C.; Regina, Sask., and most recently, Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
He has been grilled on topics from ranging from Indigenous issues to the economy. There have been some tense moments along the way.
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In Regina, Trudeau responded to a question from a man who claimed that Islam and Christianity “don’t mix.”
Canadians are expected to cast their federal ballots on Oct. 21. The Liberals hold all 10 of New Brunswick’s seats in the House of Commons.
Trudeau made several stops on his visit to the province, including an appearance at a rally in the riding of Fundy Royal, which his party won narrowly in 2015.
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—With files from the Canadian Press and Kerri Breen, Global News
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