People kind and pushing against pipelines

Each week, we’ll give you a roundup of the outrage, the posturing and the downright weird unfolding on social media.

MANKIND, WOMANKIND, PEOPLE KIND

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became the butt of jokes worldwide after his own attempt at humour while speaking in Edmonton on Feb. 1.

Trudeau held a town hall as part of a cross-country tour where he took questions from participants on topics ranging from economic development to Crown-Indigenous relations.

But one of his answers went viral after a woman asked about policies for religious charitable organizations, adding that “maternal love is the love that’s going to change the future of mankind.”

“We like to say people kind, not necessarily mankind,” Trudeau responded.

His quip spurred commentary on Fox News and from U.K. television personality Piers Morgan, who wrote an opinion piece for the Daily Mail online and called the Canadian leader a “politically correct plonker,” using an old English word for fool.

Trudeau said he made a dumb joke that played well at the time, but agreed it wasn’t funny when taken out of context.

FROM THE INBOX

Premier Rachel Notley ’s Twitter account is busy touting proof that there are British Columbians who support the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Notley decided to tweet out emails from the ordinary man — oops, person — under the phrase “from the inbox.”

Ken in Kelowna supports her actions 100 per cent, while Gloria says the majority of British Columbians want to see the pipeline go ahead, according to the tweets.

And one Victoria resident named Grant sent the premier his enthusiastic kudos: “Bravo Rachel! Don’t give up on it. You have a lot of support here.”