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Trudeau said that program spending must be taken into account.

“Why are we still fighting against certain veteran’s groups in court? Because they are asking for more than we are able to give right now,” Trudeau said

A woman told Trudeau that Indigenous people continue to face racism and called for more action to better their lives.

The woman’s voice shook with emotion as she spoke of the media vilifying Indigenous people. She mentioned murder trials underway in Winnipeg and in Saskatchewan where the victims are Indigenous.

“Racism is alive and real right now in Canada. It is happening to Tina Fontaine’s family. It is happening to Colten Boushie’s family,” she said.

“What are you going to do for our communities because I don’t see you doing a lot, and that kind of hurts my heart.”

The prime minister said the status quo is not acceptable.

Photo by Ed Kaiser/Postmedia

He said his government is making progress on righting wrongs, but reconciliation is going to be a long road.

On pipelines, Trudeau faced questions from a man worried about stalled oil pipeline projects that he said are needed to help the economy and create jobs.

As the man spoke others in the crowd held up big yellow signs that read “Albertans Against Kinder Morgan” and “No Jobs On A Dead Planet.”

The prime minister told the crowd that Canada must be able to get its resources to new markets and reaffirmed his determination to see the construction of the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project through British Columbia.