Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau called out a woman for being racist – and this is why he’s not apologising

Justin Trudeau refuses to back down after he accused a woman of racism at a political event he spoke at.

The Canadian prime minister appeared at a corn roast, some 30 miles from Montreal, when a heckler interrupted his speech and asked him in French:

I want to know when you are going to refund the $146 million we paid for your illegal immigrants.

He initially told her that one of the "most important things in politics [is] to listen", to which she continued with her barbs.

Eventually, the Canadian prime minister told the woman, who remains unidentified:

This intolerance against immigrants has no place in Canada. Your racism doesn’t have a place here.

Critics of the Canadian leader accused him of stepping around answering what they perceived to be a legitimate question about the increase in asylum seekers entering the country.

Mr Trudeau did not respond directly to such claims, but at a separate event said he will be: "Very clear when people are trying to push politics of fear and indeed, intolerance."

That’s something Canadians expect of me.

According to the BBC, approximately 30,000 people cross the border into Canada seeking refuge and pursuing asylum claims.

The incident has divided people.

Some are calling Trudeau a "bully".

Others see the incident as Trudeau standing against racism.

There's also the argument that if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck...

...it's a racist.

More: India to Justin Trudeau: Stop trying so hard

More: Justin Trudeau's youngest son lived his best life during his trip to India