EDMONTON — A former Alberta legislator and top fundraiser for war-torn Ukraine says he’s skeptical of Premier Danielle Smith’s apology for remarks she made about the conflict between the country and Russia.
Thomas Lukaszuk, who raised millions of dollars in humanitarian aid with former Alberta premier Ed Stelmach for Ukraine, said he wanted details on how Smith’s stated views had changed, adding that it was detrimental to the fundraising effort.
“I personally don’t believe it (Smith’s apology), but the fact is we are where we are, and the situation in Ukraine is real and Ukraine needs more help than ever.” , Lukaszuk said in an interview on Wednesday.
Lukaszuk said it would be up to members of Smith’s United Conservative Party and Albertans to judge his apology, but said Smith would have a chance to make amends by following through on promises of tangible help to Ukraine.
On Friday, freelance journalist Justin Ling posted Smith’s comments on social media platforms ahead of becoming leader of the United Conservative Party and prime minister.
In these messages, Smith said it would be best if Ukraine followed Russia’s desire to remain militarily neutral, wondered if parts of Ukraine wouldn’t be happier under Russian influence, and are asked if Ukraine had provoked the conflict.
Lukaszuk said these are all false narratives pushed by the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said that since Smith had made the initial comments a few months earlier, she needed to elaborate on how her views evolved in order to allay concerns that she apologized while continuing, fact, according to his initial statements.
“If she was really that ignorant of history, (she needs) to say, ‘You know what? I spoke with historians. I was completely wrong about everything I said. I learned that,” said Lukaszuk
Smith’s office released a statement on Tuesday in which she apologized for the comments and denounced the Russian invasion. She said her views “have evolved significantly” and promised to meet with members of the community to continue relief efforts.
Lukaszuk, who served as a Progressive Conservative minister from 2010 to 2014, said damage had been done.
He said the online response to his and Stelmach’s fundraising efforts has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Since Danielle Smith’s comments were posted, I have had to personally block over 400 people on Twitter for offensive and 100% pro-Putin comments accusing Ed Stelmach and I of funneling money to the Nazis, claiming (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy is working with Israel to set up the next Jewish state in Ukraine. Just crazy stuff,” he said.
“(Smith) has hissed and they feel able to say what they were thinking before.
“As we try to raise funds, it is a deterrent. Who wants to come out and retweet my tweet that says ‘Let’s raise money for Ukraine’ when they’re now going to get attacked by these hounds?
Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley, when asked about Smith’s apology, said it was better late than never.
Notley said Smith has a history of making controversial comments going back years that the rest of the country is just waking up to.
Smith made headlines on her first day in office a week ago when she said the COVID-19 unvaccinated were the most discriminated against group in her life. In July, she said patients had the power to prevent cancer at an early stage. There have been online comments and links to anti-vaccine comments in the past. Smith promised to fire Alberta’s health services board for, in part, forcing staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Now that ordinary Albertans, ordinary Canadians and investors around the world have the chance to see some of Danielle Smith’s opinions under the hood, they are deeply concerned. And it’s deeply unsettling,” Notley said.
Political scientist Lori Williams said the issue raises the larger question of whether Albertans have a premier with judgment to distinguish evidence-based comments from conspiracy fantasies.
“Some of these questions are legitimate to ask,” said Williams, an associate professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“But without some sense of (Smith’s) ability to critically assess and filter the believability of the conspirator, that’s particularly problematic — and worrisome.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 19, 2022.
Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
