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The battle for the vacant provincial riding of Calgary-Foothills is taking a nasty turn as it enters the final days, with the Wildrose accusing the NDP of pursuing “ideas of communism and socialism” and the NDP countering with claims the Wildrose is threatening major cuts to vital services.

A pamphlet distributed by Wildrose candidate Prasad Panda’s campaign — written in Chinese — attacks the NDP for implementing or pushing out “ideas of communism and socialism, endangering Albertans’ livelihoods.”

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A handout from NDP candidate Bob Hawkesworth, meanwhile, accuses the Wildrose of having no solutions, just cuts, with accompanying images identifying schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

Hawkesworth said he was disappointed by the choice of words on the Wildrose brochure, calling it “desperate” and “offensive.”

Photo by Christina Ryan / Calgary Herald

“What I think is particularly offensive is that they only use these words in Chinese,” he said. “That, to me, indicates a serious lack of respect for the Chinese community if they think that the Chinese community can be manipulated in this way.”