Danielle Smith apologizes for comments linking COVID vaccinated to Nazi followers

Danielle Smith apologized Monday after a 2021 video surfaced of her saying she wouldn’t wear a Remembrance Day poppy while comparing those who got the COVID-19 vaccine to followers of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany.Alberta’s election is set for May 29.“I’ve always remained a friend to the Jewish community, to Israel and to our veterans,” Smith told reporters Monday, deferring further comment to a statement from her campaign office.In the statement, Smith said while the comment was made during her previous career as a radio host and pundit, any comparisons involving the horrors of the Nazi regime are offside.” As everyone knows, I was against the use of vaccine mandates during COVID,” Smith wrote.“However, the horrors of the Holocaust are without precedent.”She said in the statement that no one should minimize the suffering under Hitler or the sacrifice of veterans.“I apologize for any offensive language used regarding this issue made while on talk radio or podcasts during my previous career.“COVID was a divisive and painful period for so many, including myself, but is thankfully now over.

I would hope we can all move on to talk about issues that currently matter to Albertans and their families.”The Calgary Jewish Federation, responding on Twitter, said it spoke out during the pandemic about disturbing rhetoric linking vaccine mandates to the Holocaust but declined further comment Monday, saying,  “In today’s campaign climate it is important that our community is not used as a wedge between political parties.”Since becoming premier in October, Smith has been dogged by past statements, including saying people are responsible for contracting their own early-stage cancer and that the COVID unvaccinated have faced the most.