TORONTO — Members of the media and the opposition criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday for snubbing a pair of endangered Vancouver Island marmots in favour of a photo opportunity with Chinese-mothered baby pandas at the Toronto Zoo.
Inside sources told Sun News that the marmots, among some of the rarest mammals in the world, were not even considered by the Prime Minister, who opted instead for a pair of cuddly, “dubiously Canadian” panda cubs.
Ezra Levant immediately attacked the snub, chastising Trudeau’s decision for favouring “Chinese bears” over a “true Canadian animal.” “This just goes to show that Boy Trudeau is willing to take jobs from hard-working, salt-of-the-earth Canadian animals. #ChineseAnimalTakeover” tweeted Ezra Levant, shortly before issuing a 20-minute tirade on how invasive species are forcing us to give up our traditional Canadian values.
Others on social media complained that the PM is clearly more concerned with “welcoming foreigners into the country than providing stability for ‘old stock mammals’”. One commenter demanded that the Toronto Zoo post copies of the pandas’ passports and birth certificates.
“Those pandas cost taxpayers thousands each year and don’t contribute anything back to the ecosystem!” wrote an anonymous commenter on Facebook. “There are so many homeless Canadian animals out there that could be clambering onto your arms instead.”
While most of the outrage came from the right, the NDP took aim as well, questioning the timing of the selfie and asking why the Prime Minister was neglecting some of Canada’s homelier native species. “Newts and toads are always overlooked and always the most vulnerable,” commented NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. “When will the Prime Minister give them their selfie?”
Trudeau was given the honour of naming the cubs and eventually settled on ‘Wake’ and ‘Bake’”.
With files from Emma Overton, James Bunting and Thomas Barnes
