INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau speaks with the media on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario
two decades ago, when he was not politically involved."I issue this statement reluctantly, in response to mounting media pressure to confirm
that I was the reporter who was the subject of the Open Eyes editorial, published in the Creston Valley Advance in August of 2000," Rose
Knight said in a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).She was referring to the original Canadian report on the
allegation, which said that Trudeau, who was 28 at the time and not involved in politics, had apologised to the reporter in question.In that
story he was also quoted as saying "I would never have been so forward" had he known she was a reporter."The incident referred to in the
editorial did occur, as reported
Mr Trudeau did apologize the next day
I did not pursue the incident at the time and will not be pursuing the incident further
I have had no subsequent contact with Mr Trudeau, before or after he became prime minister," said Knight
defended himself against the allegation that he groped a journalist during a music festival in the western city of Creston, British Columbia
in 2000."I do not feel that I acted inappropriately in any way, but I respect the fact that someone else might have experienced that
differently," said Trudeau.Trudeau was asked whether he intended to open an investigation into the issue, given his party's zero tolerance
policy on sexual assault.He did not respond to that question directly, but repeated several times that he does not believe he acted
inappropriately.Trudeau also stressed that "it's not just one side that matters" in such cases and that society should reflect on this
issue."Often a man experiences an interaction as being benign or not inappropriate and a woman, particularly in a professional context, can
experience it differently
We have to respect that," he said.When he came to power, Trudeau formed a cabinet with an equal division between men and women.(Except for
the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
