Justin Trudeau's 21-second pause on a question about Trump's actions in US receives criticism

While replying to a question by the reporter about his reaction to Trump's action in the US in tackling the protests, Trudeau didn't criticize Trump by name. He only said that Canada is watching in "horror" the recent events in the US.

He avoided answering questions about whether his response was meant to avoid a diplomatic refute with Trump.

Trudeau's 21-second pause on June 2 was widely watched in the US and profiled in the New York Times.

Sharpton, a Baptist minister, and TV talk show host has been applauded for his civil rights activism but also been accused of his controversial remarks, including anti-Semitic comments.

At a press conference on Thursday, Trudeau was asked repeatedly why he took so long to answer a question about Trump's threat to use military force against protesters demonstrating against black man George Floyd's death in police custody. To this Trudeau said he was defending Canada's interests.

"My job as prime minister is to stand up for Canadians' values, to express those values, and to ensure that I'm standing up for Canadians' interests as well," he said. "And I'm defending those interests," he added.

George Floyd, who met with death by a cruel policeman, was mourned at Minneapolis memorial service on June 4.

"How many funerals do we have to have before we change the laws and we have accountability? I'm going to preach to this family that we're going to make sure that George Floyd did not die in vain," Sharpton said in an interview with Radio-Canada in Minneapolis.

"The time has made the moment of change in America. And I'm going to express that in my eulogy. And since you're from Canada, I won't have a 21-second gap before I say what I have to say."

Trudeau said systemic racism is not a uniquely American problem and Canada has its own sordid history of discrimination. He vowed to do more to fight anti-black racism in Canada.

"We have done much, hand in hand, with the black community over these past years on supporting them, on reducing barriers, but we realize there is much more to do here in Canada, right across the country. We will continue to do that work," Trudeau said during the conference.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have both criticized Trudeau's response to Trump.

While speaking to the reporters on June 3, Singh said that many times when he was bullied as a child, he did not get any support and that silence had a long-lasting effect on him. He does not want people to be silent or passive bystanders.

Singh said for too long people have been "passive bystanders," which had led hate and racism to flourish. People in positions of power, such as the prime minister, must lead by example, he said.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)