ALBERTA — All eyes are on western Canada following Premier Danielle Smith’s claim that those who chose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are the most discriminated group she has seen in her lifetime. On October 11th Danielle Smith laid claims that unvaccinated people faced the most discrimination because they had “restrictions on their freedoms” like being fired from their jobs, not being allowed to attend their kids’ hockey games, or being prevented from getting on an airplane.
Many people pointed out that Smith, who was born in 1971, has witnessed things like the residential school system, the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis, the fight for marriage equality, and the ongoing racist abuse of BIPOC communities throughout Canada.
“OK, in her lifetime and here in Alberta: MMIW, Residential School abuses, ongoing discrimination of & attacks on BIPOC people including in-person violence, physical, online, & other venues used to intimidate, hurt, and kill anyone not-white,” posted one person on Twitter.
“Danielle Smith was born in 1971. At a time where Apartheid still existed, where you were fired for having* a disability, being gay or contracting AIDS, where marital rape was still legal. But sure the unvaccinated had it worse,” posted another.
Jewish Edmonton Calls Out Danielle Smith
A group known as Jewish Edmonton also aired their grievances with what the new Premier said.
“We are aware of the comments made yesterday by Premier @ABDanielleSmith regarding the unvaccinated being the most discriminated against group that she’s witnessed in her lifetime. We have reached out to the premier’s office to express our concerns…” the group posted to Twitter.
“Surrounding these comments & are keen on meeting with the Premier to discuss antisemitism, discrimination in our community & others in Alberta, the need for mandatory Holocaust education & the story of Alberta’s Jewish community,” they continued in a second tweet, published on October 12.
This follows the group’s earlier message, posted prior to Smith’s comments on October 7th.
“Congratulations to the new Premier of Alberta – @ABDanielleSmith! The Alberta Jewish community is looking forward to working with you & your government on areas of mutual concern, including the recent adoption of the #IHRA definition by the government.”
Danielle Smith Apologizes
“Yesterday I made comments regarding the discrimination unvaccinated individuals have suffered through over the past two years. My intention was to underline the mistreatment of individuals who chose not to be vaccinated and were punished by not being able to work, travel or, in some cases, see loved ones,” Smith said in a statement published October 12th.
“I want to be clear that I did not intend to trivialize in any way that discrimination faced by minority communities and other persecuted groups both here in Canada and around the world or to create any false equivalency to the terrible historical discrimination and persecution suffered by so many minority groups over the last decades and centuries,” she continued adding that Canadians and Albertans need to actively work together to end all discrimination against minority communities.
Smith continued on to say that she’s committed to listening learning and addressing the issues affecting minority communities in Alberta. She also said that throughout her next few days in office she will be having meetings with minority community stakeholders to better understand the different concerns of their communities.
Many did not feel as though Smith’s apology went far enough.
“You have trivialized the suffering of many who did not have the element of “choice” in their oppression. Unlike the unvaccinated who had and continue to have the option to “choose”. You are just a white privileged woman with no insight into the suffering of others,” wrote activist Birgit Umaigba.
“Doesn’t read as an apology, just a clarification. But who are “these people”? Historically marginalized segments of society whose life experiences she is admitting she trivialized by claiming unvaccinated people were the most discriminated against group of her lifetime?” wrote one person under her statement posted to Twitter.
How do you feel about Danielle Smith‘s comments, and how do you feel about her apology? Let us know in the comments below!
