Big turnout expected at prime minister’s town hall in Dartmouth
Thousands of people are expected to descend on a town hall meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.
The Monday meeting is part of Trudeau’s cross-country tour. Halifax mayor and former Liberal MP Mike Savage tweeted that Trudeau is interested in hearing from people in the municipality about issues that matter to the region.
Demand to see Trudeau forced organizers to move the community meeting to the 3,000-seat arena within the Sportsplex, according to Savage.
Trudeau will hold the campaign-style town hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. AT. It is open to the public.
Savage and Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher will host the meeting.
The prime minister has faced criticism recently for a trip to a private island in the Bahamas that belonged to the Aga Khan, leader of a foundation that receives federal funding for development projects.
That led to a complaint to the ethics commissioner. Trudeau has said he doesn’t see an issue with what he did but looks forward to discussing it with the ethics commissioner.
Trudeau’s coffee run
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets people at Java Blend Coffee Roasters in Halifax. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
He began his tour Monday afternoon with stops at two cafés — Java Blend Coffee Roasters in Halifax and Two If By Sea in Dartmouth.
Java Blend was packed with about 100 people inside and 50 to 75 people outside.
“It’s not every day that you host a prime minister,” said Jim Dikaios, whose family has owned the business since 1971.
Trudeau posed for selfies at Java Blend in Halifax. (Pool/CBC)
Inside, Trudeau shook hands and took selfies with customers and Liberal Party supporters. He also posed for a photo with staff at the coffee shop behind the counter.
Java Blend was packed with about 100 people inside and 50 to 75 people outside. (Pool/CBC)
Trudeau told the owner, “It’s good to be here. I’ve heard nice things about this place.”
Three men stood by the entrance of the coffee shop with signs that read, “Please do better,” “Respect Indigenous rights,” and “Military support to Saudi Arabia is murder.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes Java Blend Coffee his first stop in Halifax0:36
Second coffee stop
After leaving Java Blend, the prime minister headed to Two If By Sea in Dartmouth, where customers cheered as he made the rounds from table to table, shaking hands and posing for more pictures.
Trudeau yelled for everyone to buy a coffee before leaving Java Blend Coffee Roasters in Halifax. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
At one point, Trudeau took pictures with a group of women who told him they were teachers, but the women didn’t mention anything about an ongoing contract dispute with the province.
Thousands of people are expected at a town hall meeting at the Dartmouth Sportsplex on Monday night. (Pool/CBC)
Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/justin-trudeau-town-hall-dartmouth-1.3937805?cmp=rss