Manitoba's lone Liberal MP is crying foul over local attack ads painting Michael Ignatieff as anti-Ukrainian.

The ads are part of a mail-out flyer that appears to come from Conservative MP Vic Toews' office, alleging Ignatieff is anti-Ukrainian.

The flyer was delivered earlier this month to people in the riding of Provencher, which covers Lac du Bonnet, Steinbach, Altona, Pinawa and several other communities. The riding serves a population of about 90,000.

It has Toews photo on it and contains quotes from a book Ignatieff wrote over a decade ago. The quotes describe Ukrainians as peasants, anti-Semites and "little Russians."

The quotes are taken out of context, and are part of a Conservative divide-and-conquer strategy, said Liberal MP Anita Neville.

"It's the worst kind of wedge politics — pitting one group against another: 'We love you more than they love you,'" she said. "What we should be doing as Canadians is everybody should be on board with communities, not pitting one against the other."

Toews, who is in Ottawa, could not be reached for comment. His staff would not confirm, nor deny, the pamphlets came from his office.

A spokesperson with the Ukrainian-Canadian Coalition in Winnipeg said the matter has caused a stir in the community. The spokesperson, who didn't want to be identified, said the coalition is taking a neutral position because it has received strong opinions on both sides of the issue.

Oakbank resident Kris Condon, who lives in the riding and twice received the mailing, said it's had an impact on her view of Ignatieff.

"It makes me question his character, the way that those comments were written," she said. "It appears to be racist, and I don't think it's appropriate."