Canadians and their elected leaders have a shared responsibility to protect and defend the principles of democracy, which need constant tending to remain strong, Justin Trudeau said Friday.

It was only the prime minister香蕉视频直播檚 latest repudiation of this week香蕉视频直播檚 stunning and deadly attack on Capitol Hill 香蕉视频直播� a violent incursion that he blamed squarely on Donald Trump.

In an opening statement during a news conference in Ottawa, Trudeau called Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 events an 香蕉视频直播渁ssault on democracy香蕉视频直播� that was clearly incited by the sitting U.S. president.

香蕉视频直播淎s shocking, deeply disturbing, and frankly saddening as that event remains, we have also seen this week that democracy is resilient in America, our closest ally and neighbour,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淰iolence has no place in our societies, and extremists will not succeed in overruling the will of the people.香蕉视频直播�

He acknowledged that Canada is 香蕉视频直播渘ot immune香蕉视频直播� to the forces responsible for the unrest in the U.S.

香蕉视频直播淲e have a responsibility as Canadians to continue to lead with respect, to engage substantially with different points of view and to never resort to violence as a way of impacting public discourse,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭he choices we make as leaders, as politicians, have consequences. What we choose to say, what we choose not to say, how we choose to say it does have an impact on Canadians.香蕉视频直播�

Trudeau said he discussed the issue during his call Thursday with provincial and territorial premiers, reminding them that despite its strengths, preserving democracy takes work.

He called it an accomplishment to have and maintain a political system where the party that loses an election 香蕉视频直播済racefully concedes香蕉视频直播� and where rivals work together for everyone.

香蕉视频直播淲e have this in Canada because Canadians make it possible,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淐anadians expect their political leaders to protect our precious democracy by how we conduct ourselves.香蕉视频直播�

They also expect elected leaders to engage in rigorous debate, that it be grounded in the facts, and that its enemies be identified and strongly repudiated.

香蕉视频直播淐anadian democracy didn香蕉视频直播檛 happen by accident and won香蕉视频直播檛 continue without effort,香蕉视频直播� Trudeau said.

香蕉视频直播淲e must always work to secure our democracy, and not give comfort to those who promote things that are not true or give space for hate and extremism.香蕉视频直播�

The Canadian Press

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