No tough questions for Justin Trudeau at town hall in Miramichi

Justin Trudeau didn't face any tough questions at a town hall meeting attended by about 200 peopleat the James M. Hill Memorial High School inMiramichion Thursday night.

Unlike the last time the prime minister held a public forum inNew Brunswick, where he faced anger over the troubled Phoenix payroll system, Trudeaufaced a mostly supportive crowd.

The meeting was part of a series taking place from coast to coast.

No one topic dominated the discussion. Questions ranged from pharmacare, to Lymediseaseto U.S. President Donald Trump's transgender military ban.

A few people used their question to ask the prime minister for a selfie, others to say thank you, including a woman who said she was grateful for the legalization of marijuana and a Syrian refugee who expressed gratitude for her family's acceptance to Canada.

Trudeau was asked a question aboutthe priorities for therural economic development minister, a new portfolio announced last week.He said Bernadette Jordan's focus would be rural job creation, investing in infrastructure and access to high-speed internet.

Fernand Thibodeau, the representative forseasonal workers who held several protests against the EI 'black hole,'was also given a chance to speak.

Thibodeau made a series of requests tothe Prime Minister, including obtaining "protected region" status for theRestigouche-Albert employment insurance zone, and a private meeting to discuss the matter.

"As you know, people in the Acadian Peninsula suffer because of the black hole," said Thibodeau. "The problem is not fixed."

"It's not the workers that are seasonal, it's the work that's seasonal," answered Trudeau. The prime minister notedhis government allocated $240 million for training programs and extended the benefits period by five weeks, but addedthatwork remainsto be done.

Miramichi-Grand Lake MP Pat Finnigan, Fundy Royal MPAlaina Lockhart, Acadie-Bathurst MP Serge Cormier, Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey,Miramichi Bay-Neguac MLA Lisa Harris and MiramichiMayor Adam Lordon were all in attendance.

Trudeau was in QuispamsisThursday morning, for a visit with families at the Origins Natural Learning Childcare centre, to talk aboutthe Canada Child Benefit program.

Asked by reporters there to comment on the Francophonie Games, he said his government was still waiting ona funding proposal from New Brunswick.

On Wednesday night, Trudeau spoke briefly during a rally for Liberal MP Alaina Lockhartin the battleground riding of Fundy Royal.

Other cross-country town halls meetings haveincludedKamloops, B.C., Regina, Sask., St. Catharines,Ont., Belleville, Ont.,Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., and La Loche, Sask.