Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is denouncing a far-right German politician after three of his MPs met with her during her Canadian tour in support of the 鈥淔reedom Convoy鈥� movement.
Christine Anderson, a European Parliament member with the Alternative für Deutschland party, concludes her four-stop tour of Canada with an event in Montreal on Friday after speaking in Calgary, Toronto, and Whitby, Ont.
Three Ontario Conservative MPs 鈥� Colin Carrie, Dean Allison and former leadership contender Leslyn Lewis 鈥� were photographed with Anderson this week.
Their participation was noted by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in an online statement.
鈥淲e鈥檙e deeply concerned by CPC MPs @LeslynLewis @DeanAllisonMP @ColinCarrieCPC meeting with @AndersonAfDMdEP - a member of the far-right German AFD Party known for Islamophobic and anti-immigrant views,鈥� .
Poilievre's spokeperson said the MPs were unaware of her 鈥渧ile鈥� views and said they regret meeting with her.
鈥淔rankly, it would be better if Anderson never visited Canada in the first place. She and her racist, hateful views are not welcome here,鈥� said Sebastian Skamski, director of media relations for the Official Opposition Leader's office, in a written statement.
The three MPs released a statement saying it鈥檚 not uncommon for MPs to meet visiting elected officials from other countries and denied awareness of her views or her party鈥檚.
Alternative für Deutschland has opposed immigration and decries what some of its members call the 鈥淚slamization鈥� of Europe.
, Anderson said Islam was the cause of the denial of women鈥檚 human rights in Afghanistan.
鈥淔or God鈥檚 sake, take a look around,鈥� she said, claiming women are repressed in all Muslim countries.
鈥淐all the devil by its name and stop using apologetic terms to downplay the true nature of the most despicable and horrific ideology women suffer from worldwide.鈥�
Anderson made headlines in Canada last year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the European Parliament.
鈥淢r. Trudeau, you are a disgrace for any democracy,鈥� . 鈥淧lease spare us your presence.鈥�
Anderson has been welcomed warmly in Canada by many associated with the 鈥淔reedom Convoy鈥� protests that gridlocked Ottawa and border crossings last year.
Tamara Lich, a leader of protests, was photographed with Anderson this week, along with two of her lawyers Keith Wilson and Eva Chipiuk, of the Edmonton-based Justice Centre for Freedom, which litigates against vaccine mandates and participated in the public inquiry studying the government鈥檚 use of the Emergencies Act.
At one event, Anderson arrived in a convoy of semi-tractor trailer trucks, wearing a Freedom Fighters Canada sweatshirt.
In Toronto, she also posed for a photograph with the flag of Diagolon, an online protest movement that some law enforcement agencies consider an extremist group.
The 鈥淲hat Would Christine Anderson Do鈥� tour鈥檚 sponsors included Canadians for Truth, an organization run by Saskatchewan businessman Joseph Bourgault, which also promotes speaking events by anti-mandate activists Jamie Sale, a former Olympic figure skater, and Theoren Fleury, a former NHL player. Tickets for her events sold for $50.
