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The view from the back of the hall. PMJT is down there somewhere. #PMTour pic.twitter.com/SiqvsRwEZr — David Akin (@davidakin) January 14, 2017

Zack then noted that the federal finance department recently said Canada will likely run deficits to 2055 and the debt will exceed $1.5 trillion.

“That is totally unacceptable,” Zack continued. “Justin: What are you doing to this country? You are intentionally setting up millions of young Canadians like myself … and for what? Your own moral superiority complex?”

At this point, many in the crowd started to boo, trying to drown Zack out but Trudeau put his hand up, palm facing out, as a teacher would to an unruly group of students.

“This is an open town hall,” Trudeau told them. “And we’ll let Zack finish his question.”

So Zack finished.

“My question is this: What, if anything, are you going to do to curb your insane and reckless spending habits?”

Trudeau’s answer to Zack was very similar to the one he gave Canadians during the 2015 election campaign as the only leader of the three major parties ready to spill some red ink to improve the country’s economy.

But the answer, in this case and at other times during the four town hall meetings he held last week in southern Ontario, was less important than the question.

Here was a prime minister opening himself up to potential criticism from everyday Canadians in an unscripted, live-to-television event where the attendees were not just party members but open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis.

He was heckled more than a few times. In Kingston, a young girl told him, “I’d glad you’re the prime minister. I would have voted for the Green Party if I could have voted but I’m still glad you’re the prime minister.”