Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thrilled a largely supportive crowd at the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan on Vancouver Island Saturday afternoon.
Some protesters greeted his motorcade as Trudeau pulled up with his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and their children, but inside the protest was drowned out by applause from the excited crowd that had congregated to meet the prime minister.
91ƵI just wanted to say what a pleasure it is to be here today with all of you,91Ƶ Trudeau said to the crowd. 91ƵObviously the B.C. forest industry is a really important one, it leads to great jobs for all your families, and communities right across the Island and B.C.
91ƵI know you91Ƶve faced some challenging times in the past and there91Ƶs ongoing challenging times with out neighbours to the south, but I also want you to know that we have your back. We will continue to support workers in the forestry industry, we will continue to support workers right across this country. We have your back and I91Ƶm really excited to be here today.91Ƶ
First Trudeau greeted some forestry workers and their families, then recieved a short tour of the centre from longtime volunteer Roland Brown.
Trudeau shook hands and spoke with many of those who had gathered to get a glimpse of the prime minister, stopping to take numerous photos with members of the crowd.
He then took a few moments and answered a number of questions from reporters about immigration, the Trans Mountain Pipeline, national security and North Korea and supply management and NAFTA talks.
91ƵThere are people out there who still think there is a choice to be made between what91Ƶs good for the environment and good for the economy. I don91Ƶt,91Ƶ Trudeau said while defending his government91Ƶs decision to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline.
91ƵThe only way to build a strong economy moving forward is to protect the environment, and ensuring that we are protecting the environment for future generations is deep priority of mine.91Ƶ
The national plan to fight climate change is all about that, he said, as is the oceans protection plan.
91ƵIt also includes getting our resources to markets other than the United States,91Ƶ he said of building a strong economy. 91ƵMost Canadians know91Ƶthat we need sustainable jobs into the future, we need to move towards a lower carbon economy, but we can91Ƶt get there quite yet, we can91Ƶt get there tomorrow.91Ƶ
On supply management and NAFTA, Trudeau said it91Ƶs clear that the U.S. is targeting the sector, demanding elimination.
91ƵI can tell you here today, as I have been saying for months if not years, we will protect supply management,91Ƶ Trudeau said. 91ƵIt91Ƶs a system that works for our farmers, it91Ƶs a system that works for our consumers.91Ƶ