Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, interrupted a woman who said the phrase “mankind” and suggested “peoplekind” should be used instead.

The comment came as Mr Trudeau took questions during a visit to the Ewan University in Edmonton, Canada, on Thursday.

A young woman from the World Mission Society Church of God, a controversial feminist church founded in South Korea, asked a question from the audience.

She said: “We have received the Queen's Award in the UK, we have received many awards.

“We have received many awards, however, unfortunately in Canada, our volunteering as a religious charitable organization is extremely difficult.

“We came here today to ask you to also look into the policies that religious charitable organizations have in our legislations so that it can also be changed because maternal love is the love that's going to change the future of mankind."