Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took questions from the public during a town hall style event at UBC Okanagan today, Sept. 6, 2017.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA – The only standing ovation at tonight's town hall meeting with Justin Trudeau was for a young boy who didn’t even have a question for the Prime Minister.

His name is Tor, and he appears to be in high school, perhaps middle school.

“I’m trans,” he said. “And I’d just like to thank you and all the other MPs here for passing bill C16.”

Earlier this year, Trudeau's Liberal Party enacted additional protections under the Human Rights Act to protect citizens against discrimination by gender identity, among other protections.

Trudeau is in town for a two-day Liberal caucus retreat and strategy meeting with fellow federal Liberal MPs.

They face a host of issues including a controversial proposal to eliminate tax loopholes, Trudeau’s decision to pay millions in compensation to Omar Khadr, refugees and the Phoenix pay system, Canadian Press reports. 

A young man named Tor thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for passing bill C17 at a Town Hall event at UBC Okanagan tonight, Sept. 6, 2017.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

Sometimes seated on a stool, other times walking around, Trudeau took around half a dozen questions from the centre of the gymnasium at UBC Okanagan tonight, Sept. 6.

Questions touched on electoral reform, cost of prescription drugs, immigration, First Nations rights and health care, but the hundreds in attendance were loudest following young Tor’s short thank you near the end of the night.

“I love that, here tonight, I don’t even have to congratulate you for your courage because we’re all with you,” Trudeau told him. “Defending each other’s rights goes to the heart of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, goes to the heart of how we are as a country.

“To make sure that everyone is treated with respect, dignity and given all the opportunities regardless of where they’re from, what their religion is, who they choose to love.”

He also warned against a “rise of anti-immigration sentiment” and giving a platform to groups whose values do not represent Canadians.

"We need to stay focused on what matters most to Canadians, and that’s growing the economy and giving opportunities to the middle class and those working hard to join it.”

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2017