The Passion of Diction, ala Lollobrigida

OTTOWA, Ontario, May 7 (UPI) -- Canadian lawmakers have taken to name calling in a dispute over how to refer to one of Italy's greatest sex stars, the BBC reported Friday.

It turns out one member of Parliament accused an ex-minister of "rubbing shoulders with Gina Lollobreegeeda," reports said.

The apparent mispronunciation prompted Human Resources Minister Joe Volpe to yell: "It's Gina Lollobrigida, idiot!"

That triggered opposition member Jason Kenney to mockingly apologize for "offending the aging sex-kitten community."

Volpe later told reporters he, too, had some regrets over the row.

"I'm sorry I called him an idiot. I should have referred to him as an imbecile," he said.

Gina Lollobrigida achieved fame for her portrayal of alluring, buxom heroines in the Italian cinema of the 1950s and 1960s.

Now 76 years old, she is known in Italy by her nickname, "La Lollo."

Initially, Kenney had accused former public works minister Alfonso Gagliano of misusing public funds when he travelled to Italy to launch a commemorative coin with Lollobrigida.