Trudeau scheduled for Saskatoon rally amid brownface controversy

Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau is set to make his first Saskatchewan stop of the 2019 election campaign on Thursday, when he’s scheduled to lead a rally in Saskatoon.

An event listing on the party website notes the rally will be held at the Delta Bessborough from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A campaign office worker for Saskatoon-Grasswood Liberal candidate Tracy Muggli said the visit would be “quick,” and would consist only of the rally.

The visit will come a day after Time Magazine published a photo of the Liberal leader wearing brownface makeup at an “Arabian Nights”-themed school event at a Vancouver school he taught at in 2001.

Trudeau apologized on Wednesday evening for wearing the makeup, saying he “shouldn’t have done it,” and “should have known better.” He acknowledged it was “a racist thing” to do.

The Liberal Party is fighting for their first Saskatoon-area seat since Morris Bodnar held the former Saskatoon-Dundurn riding from 1993 to 1997.