Community Reaction: Justin Trudeau's cursing at Kent prompts strong community reaction

YMP Justin Trudeau rises to apologize in the House of Commons Wednesday. (CBC) A "decidedly unparliamentary" remark from Liberal MP Justin Trudeau rang out loud and clear during a boisterous question period on Wednesday.

Parliamentarians of all stripes were momentarily agape after Trudeau called Environment Minister Peter Kent a "piece of shit."

Trudeau said he lost his temper when Kent appeared to chide NDP MP Megan Leslie for not having attended the climate conference in Durban. The problem, Trudeau told the speaker, was that Kent himself had prevented any member of the opposition from attending.

Trudeau then apologized for losing his temper and withdrew his remark.

In a survey, the CBC Community team asked readers if they were disappointed in Trudeau. Nearly 80 per cent of over 8,000 respondents said no, compared to just over 18 per cent who said yes. The rest said they were unsure.

Thousands of the largely positive comments posted below the news story seemed to echo those numbers.

• "Ah finally some honesty in politics." - jaigg22
• "Good on Trudeau for calling a spade a spade. At least there's one member of the Canadian government speaking his mind." - misshapen melon
• "Well deserved. Megan Leslie and Justin Trudeau have been attacking Peter Kent often in question period for his ridiculous decision making and if this is what gets the public's attention then so be it. Who says there is no charisma in Canadian politics?" - L_Legault
• "And why not yell it out? Louder and louder for the rest of us thinking it but who apparently no longer have a voice with this government." - stopnthink eh
• "Millions of Canadians will certainly agree with Mr. Trudeau's "rough" sentiments in Parliament today. It is good that at least one opposition MP is outraged enough to lose his cool over the environment issue." - Not a Sheep in Alberta

Others were more balanced in their observations.

• "I fully understand Mr. Trudeau's frustration although I do not support his use of language. But at least he is responsible enough to stand up in front of the house and admit he did wrong and apologize." - can-eh-dian
• "Trudeau's remarks were definitely unparliamentary and he shouldn't have made them, at least not that way. On the other hand, they were accurate, and in any case Peter van Loan says freedom of speech trumps decency, so who are the Conservatives to complain?" - dmacmurc
• "The little poll on the side seems to indicate that 80% of Canadians approve of Mr. Trudeau's comments. Unfortunately, as has been pointed out, the real issue is the duplicitous behaviour of Mr. Kent." - historian52
• "Even though Trudeau expressed a popular sentiment - the exact phrasing could have benefited from a wittier touch that is expected from an heir to the Liberal 'thron.'" - gofiger
  

But some were unimpressed, suspicious and even angry about the remark and its motive.

• "I have to laugh at some of the comments. People 'praising' Justin Trudeau for being true and honest. Give me a break. I didn't vote for the Conservative Party but if it had been a conservative who said that, you would have crucified him. Stop being hypocrites." - Lord Gaga
• "One should consider that it was probably carefully scripted and orchestrated precisely to have people talking about him - good or bad. I am a Liberal supporter but Justin Trudeau hardly cuts it for me - he is arrogant and cocky with little to no substance. That type of attitude was fine 30 years ago and worked for his father. Today is a different time." - mikfitz
• "The point here is not whether or not you like Kent or Justin Trudeau, it is about decorum in the House, and an ability to communicate intelligently. I do NOT want to see the House devolve into a place where people just hurl expletives at each other across the floor." - selenius
  

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