View larger image Alberta Premier Ralph Klein arrives to speak at a luncheon at the CD Howe Institute in Toronto on Thursday Oct. 26, 2006. (CP / Frank Gunn)
View larger image Federal Liberal MP Belinda Stronach and comedian Rick Mercer get under some mosquito netting as they ham it up for the cameras after a news conference in Montreal Thursday Nov.9, 2006. (CP / Ryan Remiorz)
Klein won't apologize for Stronach 'bone' joke
CTV.ca News Staff
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is refusing to apologize for a crude joke about Liberal MP Belinda Stronach, weeks after MacKay allegedly referred to her as a dog.
"I'm making no apologies," Klein told reporters Thursday. "I read the copy and I approved. I thought it was a funny line."
Klein was at a charity roast in Calgary on Tuesday when he made fun of Stronach for leaving the Conservative party -- and then-boyfriend Peter MacKay -- for the Liberals.
"I wasn't surprised she crossed over. I don't think she ever had a Conservative bone in her body -- well, except for one," said Klein.
In case anyone in the audience missed the punch line, he continued: "Speaking of Peter MacKay..."
The clip has already found its way onto the popular online video website YouTube, and can be found here.
Marisa Etmanski, Klein's press secretary, said the joke was acceptable given the nature of the event.
"Ms. Stronach roasted the premier two years ago and made remarks about his weight, his clothing and even his flatulence," she told The Canadian Press.
"In a roast situation, these remarks were hysterical, and that's the same kind of thing that happened this year."
When Prime Minister Stephen Harper was asked on Thursday if he thought the joke was funny, he simply held up his hand and rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile, Stronach said such chauvinistic humour is discouraging women from entering politics.
"We all have to improve the civility that occurs in public life, and in the House of Commons in particular, because we want to attract good people to participate in public life. We want to attract many more women to participate in politics," she told reporters.
"We only have about 20 per cent now. I've talked to many women across the country and they've said, `You know what, I don't know if I really want to participate if it's going to be so rough and nasty," she told reporters.
Stronach was in Montreal on Thursday for an international conference on global poverty, and she used the publicity from Klein's joke to focus on helping malaria patients.
"Ralph should put his money where his mouth is and buy a whole bunch of bednets to save kids from malaria in Africa," she said.
Klein has made several wrong-headed gestures during his time as Alberta's premier. In March, he landed in trouble for throwing a Liberal Party health policy booklet that almost hit a page.
"I ought not to have thrown the ... policy at our page Jennifer, and to Jennifer I apologize most sincerely," he later apologized.
Earlier this month, Klein himself was targeted, when Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson wrote that the "bozo years'' are over in Alberta, because Klein is retiring as premier after 14 years.
Simpson went on to use the term bozo four more times.
Klein's joke about Stronach earlier this week follows an alleged reference by MacKay that his former girlfriend is a dog.
In October, a Liberal MP heckled MacKay about a four-legged pet he once famously posed with.
In response to the taunting, MacKay allegedly pointed to a seat where Stronach once sat and said, "You already have her."
Speaker Peter Milliken said he could find no evidence of the remark, and so MacKay would not have to apologize as Liberals had demanded.
Alberta premier Ralph Klein was at the annual Calgary Homeless Foundation roast Tuesday evening when he poked fun at Liberal MP Belinda Stronach crossing the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals. "I wasn't surprised that she crossed over to the Liberals. I don't think she ever did have a Conservative bone in her body. Well, maybe one." Referring to Conservative MP Peter MacKay, her ex boyfriend.  "Well, speaking of Peter MacKay...," he continued.

Klein refused to apologize for the remark saying: "I'm making no apologies....I read the copy and I approved. I thought it was a funny line....So did Bruce his bodyguard," he added.

"A roast is a roast is a roast. It's not a toast," Klein told reporters.

The audience laughed at the joke, but after some people said they felt uncomfortable with it.

"Ms. Stronach roasted the premier two years ago and made remarks about his weight, his clothing and even his flatulence," Marisa Etmanski, Klein's press secretary, told the Canadian Press. "In a roast situation, these remarks were hysterical, and that's the same kind of thing that happened this year."

Calgary Stampede Parade
Stronach, a feminist, was offended by the joke and said that "we want to attract many more women to participate in politics" and "improve the civility that occurs in public life." 

Stronach was in Montreal on Thursday for an international conference on global poverty and defended herself from the comment. "Ralph should put his money where his mouth is and buy a whole bunch of bednets to save kids from malaria in Africa."

The joke was taken from Mr. MacKay's alleged comment calling Stronach a "dog" last month in the House of Commons.

"I don't know of any person who is more respectful of women, who is less inclined to tell off-colour stories or use improper language," said Shirley McClellan, Klein's deputy premier. "I've worked with this gentleman for 17 years, and have never been treated with anything more than the utmost respect. And I am so disappointed in our media."

The video (see external links section) has made its way around the popular internet video site YouTube. It has been viewed more than 19,500 times and more than 100 comments had been posted about the video.