The QP clip: Keith Ashfield stands by “wonderful wife” remarks
The federal fisheries minister didn’t get much applause from colleagues in the House of Commons
NDP Environment critic Megan Leslie speaks to media following the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Scott Vaughan`s press conference regarding the tabling of the 2011 December report in Ottawa on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
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NDP MP Megan Leslie won’t let Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield off the hook for remarks he made in New Brunswick last week. While promoting Budget 2013 with an east-coast family, Ashfield told one of the family’s daughters, Grace Moreno, that she’d “make a wonderful wife for somebody.” Leslie and others took exception to the remarks, while Ashfield—who claimed the remark was based on Moreno’s hospitality, and nothing else—said the criticism was out of context.
Today, Leslie hammered away at Ashfield during QP. Ashfield replied that the issue had been dealt with, and retreated to talking points touting the government’s budget.
In her supplementary, Leslie asked Minister for the Status of Women Rona Ambrose to defend Ashfield’s remarks. In her response, Ambrose countered that the government’s economic plan will create jobs for everybody—including women.