Michael Moore has been a fan of Canada ever since he mailed a VHS copy of his first documentary, 91ƵRoger & Me,91Ƶ in a plain brown paper bag to the Vancouver International Film Festival and it went on to win a top prize.
So the filmmaker, who has long viewed America91Ƶs northern neighbour as a more decent, humanitarian version of his home country, says it was 91Ƶcrushing91Ƶ to see photographs of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made up in blackface.
91ƵWe91Ƶre living with (President Donald) Trump and we look to the north with such envy. You don91Ƶt have to live with Trump. You have a man who greets refugees at the airport. You have someone who speaks with kindness and compassion. We don91Ƶt have any of that,91Ƶ said Moore.
91ƵSo Trudeau, despite whatever flaws or problems there are with him, you only have to look south to see just how bad it could be.91Ƶ
Moore was in Vancouver to attend a special event at the city91Ƶs film festival honouring the 30-year anniversary of 91ƵRoger & Me91Ƶ on Saturday. In an interview Friday, Moore reflected on how the themes of the film still resonate in 2019 and offered his thoughts on the latest bombshells in American and Canadian politics.
Trudeau has apologized for wearing skin-darkening makeup in the 1990s and early 2000s, including on one instance where he was dressed like Aladdin. Trudeau has said although he didn91Ƶt think it was racist at the time, he now sees that it was.
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Moore said his first thought when he saw the Trudeau photos was: 91ƵWhat is wrong with white people?91Ƶ
91ƵWhether it91Ƶs stealing black peoples91Ƶ music, whether it91Ƶs taking the best comedy 91Ƶ African-American comedians 91Ƶ you go down the whole list of things that are appropriated from people of colour and this is a long and sad tradition,91Ƶ he said.
Moore noted he didn91Ƶt like anyone interfering in American elections and he didn91Ƶt want to interfere in Canada91Ƶs. But he said he felt sad about Canadians91Ƶ choices, even though the country does have the 91ƵNDP, which is rockin91Ƶ on as far as I91Ƶm concerned.91Ƶ
91ƵYou have an election in a couple of weeks and you basically have a choice between Aladdin and an American. I think on balance, advantage Aladdin. Right?91Ƶ he quipped, referencing the recent revelation that Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen.
Scheer has said he91Ƶs in the process of renouncing his American citizenship but Moore joked that the move wasn91Ƶt necessary.
91ƵI think the best thing I can do while I91Ƶm here in Canada is escort Mr. Scheer back to his country and try to tell him to quit saying that word 91Ƶrenounce.91Ƶ 91Ƶ Don91Ƶt let Americans hear they91Ƶre being renounced. We can91Ƶt take it anymore. We91Ƶre going through enough already.91Ƶ
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The Vancouver International Film Festival was set to screen 91ƵRoger & Me91Ƶ and host an on-stage discussion with Moore. The film chronicles Moore91Ƶs dogged efforts to interview General Motors CEO Roger Smith about the damage done in Flint, Mich., because of the company91Ƶs mass factory closures.
Flint is Moore91Ƶs hometown and he acknowledged sadly that the situation has gotten worse in the past three decades. The number of GM workers in the city has dwindled and the city91Ƶs cost-cutting measures led to tainted drinking water, he noted.
91ƵIf you lived in Flint now, you91Ƶd look at 91ƵRoger & Me91Ƶ and go, 91ƵThat91Ƶs the Flint I91Ƶd like to live in.91Ƶ Isn91Ƶt that sad?91Ƶ
Michigan was among the states Trump visited during the 2016 campaign with promises to restore manufacturing jobs. Despite his vows, the Rust Belt is still losing jobs, with GM announcing plans last November to close five plants in the U.S. and Canada.
Moore said Trump 91Ƶplayed91Ƶ the working class in the Midwest.
91ƵTrump did go into Michigan and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and over and over again said, 91ƵI91Ƶm going to tax the rich. Those hedge fund guys, they91Ƶre not paying their fair share. I91Ƶm going to bring these jobs back.91Ƶ
91ƵIf anybody would say that to people who have suffered in the Midwest, that91Ƶs going to sound good.91Ƶ
Moore also wisecracked about the impeachment inquiry launched by the Democrats in the House of Representatives, pointing out Trump has openly told the media that he asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son.
91ƵWho needs an inquiry? What91Ƶs there to inquire? He did it. He admitted he did it. He has to be impeached.
91ƵI tweeted last night that I just went downstairs to throw another load in the laundry and I came back up and he was still president. What91Ƶs going on here?91Ƶ
Laura Kane, The Canadian Press
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