Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defends his decision to accept 25,000 refugees into Canada. In a recent interview with “60 Minutes”;, taking place on the eve of Trudeau’s historic dinner with President Barack Obama, the young leader tells Lara Logan that despite criticism, he still stands by his decision as smart and safe.
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“Every time a tourist or an immigrant or refugee shows up in another country, there is a security risk,” Trudeau says. “I am more than comfortable that… accepting 25,000 Syrian refugees does right by both the safety of Canadians and by the values that define us as a nation.” He continues, “Ultimately being open and respectful towards each other is a much more powerful a way to diffuse hatred and anger than… big walls and oppressive policies.”
The 44-year-old Prime Minister originally stunned the country when he snatched a Liberal victory over the Conservative party. While he has only been in politics for eight years, which has made him the brunt of “too young”; and “too inexperienced”; criticism, he has quickly risen to the image of Canadian political royalty – just check out Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau on the cover of Vogue.
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Trudeau also makes no apologies that he’s worked many jobs unrelated to politics before becoming the Prime Minister. “I was a snowboard instructor, I was a bouncer in a nightclub, I was a whitewater river guide… I worked as a teacher,” says Trudeau.