AngusAngus .NDP Member of Parliament Charlie Angus told the House of Commons Monday that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been "promoting pro-Russian, pro-Putin separatist propaganda.""If you want to talk disinformation the front face of the conservative movement in Canada right now, Danielle Smith, I mean, oh my God, where to begin? We find out now that she's been promoting pro-Russian, pro-Putin separatist propaganda," Angus told Parliament."That's not acceptable when we see the horrific death rates, and torture and killing and rapes happening in Ukraine and yet she says that those who don't want to wear a mask are the most discriminated against people in the history of Canada."On February 24, before she announced she was returning to politics, Smith posted comments online saying: "My initial take it seems to me the great powers of the world did a terrible job defining the new borders of countries after World War II.""So much of the conflict we have had since is due to different people being crammed under one national government that don't like each other. I've read that two regions of Ukraine feel more affinity to Russia, should nations be allowed to break away and govern themselves independently? If that's truly what people want, then I think so. But is that what the people want? Or is it propaganda hard to know what to believe anymore? Any help sorting this through I would appreciate," said Smith.Smith released a statement early Saturday morning to let the Ukrainian people know she supports them.“I'm very supportive of the decision Premier Jason Kenney made in supporting the Ukrainian population," Smith said."We have a large patriot Ukrainian population in Alberta and I would hope that we would be able to do more."Smith says she knows there are various groups that expressed an interest in sponsoring refugees and they face some barriers and difficulties at the federal level."I think that that would be the best way that we would be able to lend a hand and support. But I'll reserve judgment until I have a chance to talk to get a briefing on intergovernmental affairs as well as talk to my caucus and cabinet on that. But I'm supportive of the decisions that we've made so far," she said.Despite the premier's statement, the NDP continue to attack Smith for a comment she made online on February 24."We need to see all leaders in this country standing up against Putin because the economic devastation that's happening around the world is impacting us here," Angus said."Also, from a basic human rights point of view, need to stay focused, but again I mentioned it because this is the politics of disinformation that the Conservatives are opting for, to cover for the fact that they are not delivering real results for people."
