JUSTIN Trudeau was accused of groping a woman at a music festival almost two decades ago.

A local newspaper in British Columbia first published the allegation in 2000 alleging that the Canadian PM had behaved “inappropriately” towards one of their female reporters.

3 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was accused of groping a woman at a music festival in the year 2000 Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The editorial, published in the Creston Valley Advance, says the then 28-year-old Trudeau apologised to their journalist for “handling” her as the Kokanee Summit Festival.

Self-proclaimed feminist Trudeau has made a big deal of his pro-women credentials, forming Canada’s first “gender balanced” cabinet when he became PM in 2015.

His press secretary, Matt Pascuzzo, said Trudeau has always treated women with respect and that he "doesn't think he had any negative interactions" while in Creston.

In the article, Canada’s pin-up prime minister was accused of "groping" the reporter during the music festival.

3 The feminist politician was said to have apologised after 'inappropriately handling' a female journalist at the music festival Credit: AP:Associated Press

He reportedly told the journalist: “I’m sorry. If I had known you were reporting for a national paper, I never would have been so forward.

Although he was not a public figure in his own right he was still famous in the country as the son of former PM Pierre Trudeau.

The editorial asks: "Shouldn't the son of a former prime minister be aware of the rights and wrongs that go along with public socialising?

“Didn't he learn, through his vast experiences in public life, that groping a strange young woman isn't in the handbook of proper etiquette, regardless of who she is, what her business is or where they are?"

3 The editorial published in Creston Valley Advance reports that Trudeau said: 'I’m sorry. If I had known you were reporting for a national paper, I never would have been so forward.' Credit: Creston Valley Advance / Twitter

Since becoming leader of the Commonwealth country Trudeau has proudly flaunted his feminist credentials and adopted a zero tolerance stance within his own Liberal Party to sexual misconduct.

Earlier this year he told CBS he didn’t think it likely any allegations of sexual impropriety would emerge about him.

When asked on their radio show The House he if anyone would likely accuse him he said: "I don't think so.

“I've been very, very careful all my life to be thoughtful and to be respectful of people's space and people's headspace as well."

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In a statement to BuzzFeed his press secretary Matt Pascuzzo said: “As the PM has said before, he has always been very careful to treat everyone with respect.

“His first experiences with activism were on the issue of sexual assault at McGill, and he knows the importance of being thoughtful and respectful.

“He remembers being in Creston for the Avalanche Foundation, but doesn’t think he had any negative interactions there.”