While Smith was going to small town events, Gotell noted many of the attendees were white.
“Premier Smith updates us on her tour of white Alberta,” tweeted Gotell on Sunday.
Premier Smith updates us on her tour of white Alberta. #ableg https://t.co/WfzHMVLMHX
— Lise Gotell (@LiseGot) August 18, 2024
Since she had received backlash for her comments, she said she “never thought I would live in a Canada in which racists would be so emboldened.” She called for people to read the replies with caution.
Gotell was commenting on Smith saying she was having a great weekend, which she kicked off by participating in the Westlock and District Agricultural Fair Parade with Alberta United Conservative Party MLA Glenn van Dijken (Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock).
“Then I headed to Drayton Valley to meet constituents at the Small Town Big Life Party with MLA Andrew Boitchenko,” she said.
It’s been a great weekend so far- kicked off things with the Westlock parade with MLA Glenn van Dijken. Then I headed to Drayton Valley to meet constituents at the ‘small town big life’ party with MLA Andrew Boitchenko. pic.twitter.com/iJMFst4PVM
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) August 18, 2024
Beltline Urban Society President Rob Taylor said Gotell’s comment was an ugly remark to make for no good reason.
“You must be a deeply hate filled person,” said Taylor.
. what an ugly thing to say for no good reason, @lisegottell . you must be a deeply hate filled person .
— Rob Taylor (@beltline_pres) August 19, 2024
Former Calgary Herald publisher Peter Menzies said he was stunned.
“University prof,” said Menzies.
Wow. University prof https://t.co/80OpvJfeR9
— Peter Menzies (@Pagmenzies) August 19, 2024
This ordeal comes after a U of A professor was awarded a grant from the Department of National Defence in 2023 to assess the extent of white supremacy in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
READ MORE: Alberta professor investigates white supremacy in Canadian military
U of A political science professor Andy Knight will look into how entrenched radicalization, antisemitism, xenophobia, and anti-black sentiments are in the CAF and devise policy suggestions based on his findings.
He would produce a 25-minute documentary about his research.
https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/u-of-a-professor-mocks-smith-for-attending-small-town-events/57099
This article is from Red Deer's NDP rag. Love how he is doing his town halls in small communities and the first ones are all large ones. How many will show up in small communities?
https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/local-news/this-thing-is-such-a-sham-alberta-ndp-leader-slams-alberta-next-panel-8137083
Did anyone here watch the town hall from Edmonton last night? I watched the first from Red Deer on X and attempted to watch last night on FB but the hecklers and comments pissed me off so quit watching. after about 15 minutes. They are sure a different bunch north of me and I don't say that in a positive way from what I heard. I am sure Ganum will have something to say negative as he didn't watch from Red Deer but had lots to say.