Canada's Justin Trudeau says he has no regrets over insulting protester

Canada's Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes off his bus after an election campaign in Richmond, British Columbia Canada on 14 September 2021. RICHMOND, British Columbia, September 14 - Reuters - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that in an increasingly tight election race he had no regrets over snapping a protester who insulted his wife Sophie Gregoire.

Trudeau, heckled repeatedly by people opposing mandatory COVID -19 vaccinations, responded sharply on Monday when preparing for an outdoor interview ahead of the Sept. 20 federal election in Vermont.

Is there a hospital with no one behind the house who made derogatory remarks about Gregoire, Trudeau shouted back to answer it? Critics said the comment by the Liberal Party leader was insensitive, given protesters have gathered earlier in the day outside hospitals to protest moves by various authorities to insist people get vaccinated.

I think Canadians know that I've a pretty thick skin. And I am able to take all kinds of different abuse, especially if it means that someone is not somewhere else hassling frontline health workers, Trudeau told reporters.

He went after my family, but he is now in the middle of it. He said hateful, misogynistic things about my wife everyone has limits. The tone of the campaign is gradually turning more negative before the election, that Trudeau called two years early to give voters a chance to pass their verdict on his handling of the pandemic.

Trudeau has only a minority of seats in the House of Commons, which means that he has to rely on other parties to govern.

Trudeau on Monday accused Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole, his main rival, of backing those who oppose COVID-19 vaccinations. O'Toole was portrayed as a scandal-hit party goer obsessed with keeping power. A Leger poll for the Canadian Press on Tuesday put liberals and conservatives on 32% public support, with the left-leaning New Democrats on 20%.

On election day, such a result could leave Trudeau left well short of the majority he is seeking and could even hand O'Toole his own minority.