Stronach says Klein's jibe not becoming of public figure
Liberal MP Belinda Stronach says a sexually charged comment by Alberta Premier Ralph Klein about her past relationship with MP Peter MacKay is exactly the kind of remark that puts women off entering politics.
Klein made the reference to the former high-profile couple during a charity roast in Calgary Tuesday night.
"Now Belinda roasted me as a Conservative but of course now she's a Liberal," Klein told the Calgary Homeless Foundation Roast.
"And I wasn't surprised she crossed over â I don't think she ever did have a Conservative bone in her body. Well, except for one."
After getting some groans and laughs, Klein immediately added, "Well, speaking of [Foreign Affairs Minister] Peter MacKay."
Stronach, who was in Montreal on Thursday to attend an international conference on global poverty, said the remarks do not become a public figure.
"I've developed a thick skin but Ralph, I would say, he should put his money where his mouth is and buy a whole bunch of bednets to save kids from malaria in Africa," she said.
"We have to operate and conduct ourselves with more respect for individuals. Quite frankly, we owe it to the citizens that we, as public figures represent, to focus on the issues that are important to people that will improve their quality of life."
Not first controversial remark
Klein's comment wasn't the first controversial remark to target Stronach in recent weeks.
In October, in a barely audible exchange in the Commons that was caught on audio tape, one MP asked, "What about your dog?" and someone responded, "You have her."
Opposition MPs have said they saw MacKay gesture to Stronach's empty seat. MacKay has denied making any objectionable comment or gesture about Stronach.
Two weeks later, political commentator Norman Spector called Stronach a "bitch" and said he was only using the Oxford English Dictionary definition of the word as someone who is "malicious or treacherous."