Article content

Let’s give Justin Trudeau the benefit of the doubt for a moment and accept that he honestly remembers nothing untoward happening when he visited a music festival in Creston, B.C. 18 years ago.

There’s a reasonable enough argument to be made in his defence. Trudeau was not in politics at the time. His father was still alive — Pierre Trudeau died of prostate cancer six weeks after the events in Creston — and there was no indication Justin, 28 at the time, had any intention of following in his career path. He wasn’t married — he and Sophie Gregoire weren’t engaged until more than four years later. So, at the time, he was no more than a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia with a famous last name and a bit of teaching experience, who was visiting a small town festival where money was being raised in memory of his younger brother, who died in an avalanche.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Kelly McParland: Justin Trudeau's claims are hard to credit and he has himself to thank for that Back to video

Photo by Handout

How many people recall in any detail the events of a summer day 18 years ago, other than the vaguest of details? Trudeau says he certainly remembers being in Creston, and why he was there. Even if he did behave in an inappropriate manner towards a young female reporter who was interviewing him, it’s plausible that he wouldn’t have dwelt on it. Not everyone recalls every person they ever put the move on, especially if the move wasn’t received well. One brief incident with a stranger 18 years ago, especially one that was soon overwhelmed by the grief of losing a father? Worse moments have been easily erased from many memories.