Refugee advocate calls Alberta premier's 'shared values' comments regarding asylum seekers stigmatizing

Premier Danielle Smith is facing criticism for a statement she made Thursday, saying that the province should welcome asylum seekers with the "shared values" of Albertans.

Premier Danielle Smith is facing criticism for a statement she made Thursday, saying that the province should welcome asylum seekers with the "shared values" of Albertans.

Smith expanded on those comments on her weekend radio show.

"I think that's why we have a lot of peace in Alberta. We have those shared values," the premier said. "They're enshrined in our charter of rights and freedoms, they're enshrined in our Alberta bill of rights. It is the culture of Alberta, and I'm pretty proud of that."

Smith's comments came in response to a proposed federal policy that would redistribute asylum seekers across Canada instead of mostly in Ontario and Quebec.

She says Alberta should be encouraging people with the values of "freedom, family, faith and community."

She says the province should be welcoming "people who want to work" and "leave the conflicts of their home countries behind."

Critics say governments should not impose subjective values onto asylum seekers.