Manitoba MP facing backlash over tweet about Ukraine
A Manitoba NDP MP is being asked to apologize for a tweet she made about Ukraine.
Ottawa is providing Ukraine with $120 million in economic aid as tensions continue to mount with Russia.
Winnipeg Centre’s Leah Gazan called the move horrifying, suggesting the funds are earmarked for an anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi militia.
“As a descendent of a Holocaust survivor, the Canadian government’s 120 million dollars of funding for an anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi & fascist militia is horrifying. The rise of white supremacy and fascism is real. Time to stop the cowboy politics!” her tweet said.
Now, Gazan is facing backlash.
“I felt deeply offended and insulted. I was actually shocked by the apparent lack of knowledge," said Andriy Zayarnyuk, a historian at the University of Winnipeg.
Zayarnyuk added that Gazan got her basic facts wrong.
“The $120 million right she mentions, it’s an aid to the Ukrainian state,” Zayarnyuk said.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress released a statement calling Gazan’s comments appalling, urging the federal NDP to condemn what it described as inaccurate and hurtful remarks.
“It should be retracted and an apology should come from that individual,” said Orest Cap from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress provincial council.
Gazan’s office told CTV News Winnipeg the MP was unavailable for an interview.
In a statement to her website Gazan, explained she is alarmed that Canada may have provided training to far-right groups in Ukraine’s military in the past, citing a CTV News story from last year detailing allegations that some neo-Nazi and far-right groups bragged about training they received from Canada.
“I did not equate the situation in Ukraine to the Holocaust and I do not believe that the vast majority of Ukrainian people or its democratically elected leaders share the beliefs espoused by far-right militias,” the statement said.
“I sincerely regret that my tweet did not include this important context and may have resulted in harm.”
Scholars in the Ukrainian community said these types of sentiments about Ukraine’s military are used as bait by the Russians.
“This is a true Russian disinformation tactic used to create friction,” Cap said.
In her statement, Gazan also said she is concerned by Russia’s actions, and that Canada should use diplomatic measures to ease tensions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.