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Whereas her opponents repeated calls for she apologize for feedback she made on the battle in Ukraine, Premier Danielle Smith as an alternative blamed the media for inflaming the controversy.

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On Sunday, Smith got here underneath assault for saying final April 29 on a right-wing social media platform that Ukraine ought to search neutrality because it fought off an all-out Russian assault, and after the invaders’ slaughter of civilians had been uncovered in newly liberated areas.

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And in a single Feb. 24 submit on the web site Locals.com, she questions whether or not areas of Ukraine that “really feel extra affinity to Russia” needs to be allowed to interrupt away. One other submit that gave the impression to be since-deleted seems to query if NATO and Ukraine are partially liable for Russia’s invasion.

She additionally mentioned Ukraine ought to quit its nuclear weapons, regardless that the nation hasn’t possessed them since 2001 when it repatriated them to Russia following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

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Throughout a present on 770 CHQR Radio on Monday morning, Smith once more cited a Ukrainian ancestor who she mentioned fled Bolshevik persecution within the early twentieth century, and hailed Albertans who’ve supported Ukrainian refugees.

And the brand new premier, who mentioned Sunday she “will at all times stand with the Ukrainian individuals,” insisted on Monday she believes Albertans don’t wish to dwell on previous feedback, accusing the media of doing simply that to use her phrases.

“I suppose we may relitigate each assertion I’ve made up to now with the completely different hats I’ve worn,” mentioned Smith.

“The media loves to have the ability to attempt to discover one thing that’ll get them the utmost variety of clicks and outrage . . . I might put that again on you (media) guys, I would favor you take care of points which can be substantive to Albertans.”

Smith additionally mentioned she “might have been in a position to phrase (my feedback) just a little higher, and (Albertans) settle for that and transfer on.”

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On Sunday in a tweet, Smith — who was a UCP management candidate on the time she made the feedback in April — additionally accused the Alberta NDP of “politicizing” the battle in Ukraine, an accusation NDP Deputy Chief Sarah Hoffman known as hypocritical.

“The one that was political on this state of affairs was completely the premier,” mentioned Hoffman. “She actually weighed in on this in a really political means whereas (Ukrainians) have been being topic to the phobia of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin.

“The truth that she refuses to apologize means that she believes what she mentioned . . . I perceive why the premier is hoping individuals neglect she mentioned that just some months in the past in the midst of these (Russian) assaults.”

She known as Smith’s phrases “tone deaf, chilly and merciless responsible Ukraine.”

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It’s not too late for Smith to apologize and mend the harm her phrases on Ukraine and insisting unvaccinated individuals have been essentially the most discriminated-against group have already carried out to the province’s standing, mentioned NDP financial growth critic Deron Bilous.

“Business is in search of stability and a few of these feedback have already broken Alberta’s popularity, however they are often repaired,” mentioned Bilous.

“Her feedback could be a deterrent to investing in Alberta.”

He additionally mentioned Smith’s insistence on Monday that the difficulty of Ukraine battle diplomacy falls underneath federal jurisdiction, and that Albertans ought to “keep in our lane” by serving to settle Ukrainians fleeing the battle, overlooks different realities.

Alberta’s potential function in offering power and different items to international locations affected by Russia’s invasion could possibly be undercut by Smith’s phrases, Bilous mentioned.

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“My place is there’s a function to play, for each single Albertan to play, and there’s a function for the federal government of Alberta to play in supporting Ukraine,” mentioned Bilous.

The NDP MLAs mentioned the premier’s phrases on Ukraine have a selected impact in a province that boasts an enormous variety of Ukrainian-Canadians and now refugees fleeing the present battle.

In 2016, Alberta was residence to about 370,000 Ukrainian-Canadians, in keeping with Statistics Canada.

In one other social media submit, Smith questioned the legitimacy of stories that unmarked graves had been discovered at residential colleges throughout Canada.

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Hoffman mentioned the teachings of reality and reconciliation discovered from these darkish chapters of Canada’s previous could be utilized to Smith’s latest statements.

“For a very long time the thought of ‘simply look ahead, don’t look again’ was preached, and clearly it was an enormous failure,” she mentioned.

A frontrunner of Alberta’s Ukrainian-Canadian group mentioned Smith’s phrases final April and in different boards are divorced from the fact of the Russian invasion that seeks “the destruction of the Ukrainian state and the genocide of its individuals.”

“We’re very disillusioned to study feedback made (by Smith) about Russia’s genocidal battle on Ukraine,” mentioned Orysia Boychuk, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Council.

She mentioned her group hopes to fulfill with Smith for clarification about these feedback and to tell her about what’s occurring to the Ukrainian individuals.

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“We’re glad she mentioned she stands with the Ukrainian individuals — there’s extra for Alberta to do to help Ukraine,” mentioned Boychuk.

An activist with Calgary’s Ukrainian-Canadian group mentioned Smith seems to have parroted deceptive Russian rhetoric.

“I feel she’s confused greater than something and fallen sufferer to Russian propaganda. The Russians are superb at spreading it, and it’s simple for individuals not intimately aware of that to fall for it,” mentioned Olexandr Vasetsky, who got here to Canada 15 years in the past.

Smith’s newer feedback on supporting Ukraine, he mentioned, are a step in the suitable course and needn’t be accompanied by an apology.

“Actions communicate louder than phrases, and so long as she cleans up her act and continues assist to Ukraine, that’s what issues,” mentioned Vasetsky.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn