Justin Trudeau is an enemy of Canadian values

Justin Trudeau’s remarks on free expression following the horrific terror attacks in France are among the most disturbing remarks ever made by a Canadian Prime Minister.

Here’s what he said:

“We will always defend freedom of expression. But freedom of expression is not without limits,” he added. “We owe it to ourselves to act with respect for others and to seek not to arbitrarily or unnecessarily injure those with whom we are sharing a society and a planet. We do not have the right for example to shout fire in a movie theatre crowded with people, there are always limits.”

“In a pluralist, diverse and respectful society like ours, we owe it to ourselves to be aware of the impact of our words, of our actions on others, particularly these communities and populations who still experience a great deal of discrimination.”

Now, as you read this, you are realizing what everyone is seeing: Trudeau didn’t defend freedom of expression. In fact, he opposed it.

He says “freedom of expression is not without limits,” and then makes a comparison to shouting “fire” in a “crowded theatre.”

And then, Trudeau follows that comparison by talking about communities that face “discrimination.”

Nowhere in his remarks does Trudeau say that people have the right to share things that offend religious faith, including things that offend Muslims.

Nowhere in his remarks does Trudeau point out that free expression exists precisely for people to say offensive things, since it wouldn’t be needed if people never offended each other.

Instead, Trudeau put forth an argument that is actually quite similar to what people like Turkey’s Erdogan have said, and is moving dangerously close to carving out an exception.

And what would that exception be? Labelling any offense of Islam as “hate speech.” Trudeau is clearly rhetorically moving in that direction.

Of course, many Canadians are aware that Justin Trudeau and his brother wore shirts mocking the Last Supper. That could be considered "blasphemous," yet is clearly protected by free speech.

So why didn’t Trudeau make it clear that his shirt and cartoons that offend some Muslims are fundamentally the same thing: A display that would be offensive to people of a particular faith, yet is of course protected in a free nation.

The fact is, Justin Trudeau is the enemy of Canada’s core values.

Canada is a nation fundamentally built upon freedom, a tradition passed down from Western Civilization, with free expression as a cornerstone of our society.

Those who come to Canada from foreign lands and join the Canadian family must adapt to those values, and anyone who seeks to lead our nation must uphold those values.

For Trudeau to issue such a pathetically weak and wavering statement shows that he simply doesn’t understand what it truly means to defend Canadian values, and shows that he is a serious danger to everything upon which Canada is based.