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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —

In morning remarks to Liberal party members in Charlottetown on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau focused on his political opponents instead of the ongoing SNC-Lavalin political scandal.

Trudeau, flanked by newly appointed Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Charlottetown MP Sean Casey, spoke before a crowd of roughly 50 people at the Delta Prince Edward. The remarks drew a contrast between the current Liberal government and that of his predecessor, Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper.

Trudeau claimed Harper had presided over “the lowest growth rate in Canadian history since the great depression.” He painted a picture of a government that was out of touch with ordinary Canadians, but in lockstep with a wealthy elite.

"They completely failed on the economy and they did because they did not understand something fundamental about Canadians," Trudeau said.

"They continued to think that if you give advantages and tax breaks to the wealthiest, you can create economic growth that will benefit everyone. Well they failed miserably."

Premier Wade MacLauchlan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sit down for a chat at the Delta hotel in Charlottetown March 4. - Stu Neatby

Despite last week’s allegations by his former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould, who claimed members of Trudeau’s staff “hounded” her to negotiate an agreement that would have avoided criminal prosecution of a well-connected Quebec engineering firm, Trudeau said his government has focused on ordinary Canadians.

"We have the lowest unemployment in 40 years. We've created almost 900,000 new jobs over the past three and a half years and we've lifted over 825,000 people across the country [out of poverty]," Trudeau said.

Outside the meeting, two small groups of demonstrators attempted to paint Trudeau’s leadership in a different light.

Daphnée Azoulay of the group Extinction Rebellion, said her group had hoped to disrupt Trudeau’s event. The group lined up on Queen Street, blocking traffic momentarily before they were ushered back to the sidewalk by police.

“We’re here because Justin Trudeau is supporting the building of a pipeline on Indigenous territory,” Azoulay said, referring to the Trans-Mountain pipeline in B.C.

Nearby, two members of the group Yellow Vests P.E.I. stood across the street from the Delta hotel with signs bearing the phrases “justice in, Justin out” and “stop corruption, vote out Trudeau.”

Donnie Johnston, who wore a yellow vest, said he was dissatisfied with what he described as the “lies of Trudeau.” He also said both Trudeau and MacAulay had voted for Bill C-69, which changed environment assessments of environmental projects. Johnston believes this stymied the construction of the Energy East pipeline.

"We need that work, we need the oil here. I don't want to buy Saudi Arabian oil," Johnston said.

The Yellow Vest group nationally has been accused of using racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Although Johnston said his group was not opposed to “legal immigration,” a moderator of the group’s Facebook page has called for all immigration to be halted.

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