Russian warplanes appeared in a promotional ad for the Canadian Conservatives. The footage shows two fighter jets flying as the party leader speaks of readiness to “defend our home.” “The video has been removed, mistakes happen,” a party spokeswoman said.
Conservative Party Canada posted a video on social media over the weekend promoting itself as a group that supports Canadian values. The video included a shot of party leader Pierre Poilievre talking about fighter planes being prepared to “defend our home and our native country,” a quote from the Canadian national anthem. The video then switched to Russian-made fighter planes, public broadcaster CBC reported.
Russian planes over Canada
The press office of the Canadian Ministry of Defence commented in a statement that during the ongoing invasion Russia on Ukraine “Shockingly, Mr. Poilievre's dreams about Canada include Russian fighter jets, one Su-17 and another that looks like a Su-27, flying over our magnificent prairies on a 'training mission,'” the Canadian Press reported.
The Su-17 is a fighter-bomber from the 1970s, now retired from the Russian military. The Su-27 is a modern interceptor, which – along with its development versions – is currently taking part in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The media recalled various political party blunders using poorly chosen photos or incorrect data. Conservative spokeswoman Sarah Fisher said that the Liberal Party used photos of actors, not actual voters, in a 2011 promotional material, and said that “the video has been removed – mistakes happen.”
However, as opposition New Democratic Party MP Charlie Angus said, the photos of the actors are one thing, and “the whole fantasy in which Russia, America and Serbia represent the dream of our country's future” is quite another.
Main image source: Twitter/@Team_Luftwaffe