TORONTO, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The drum beat for Conservative Canadian Member of Parliament Bob Dechert to step down over inappropriate e-mails to a Chinese journalist grew louder Wednesday.
Dechert, who represents the Toronto area and is parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, has confirmed he sent "flirtatious" e-mails to Shi Rong, a reporter working in Toronto for the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Interim House of Commons opposition leader Nycole Turmel aligned herself Wednesday with those calling for Dechert's resignation.
"He should step down and there should be an investigation," Turmel told reporters in Quebec City, Quebec, where her caucus is meeting while Parliament is in recess. "We believe it is inappropriate what happened. He's a key person."
The scandalous e-mails, one of which was signed "Love, Bob," were sent in April 2010 and were circulated to a list of people from Shi's e-mail account last week, the CBC said.
Dechert, who is married, said Friday Shi's account was hacked as part of a domestic dispute and he denies they reveal a romantic affair, the Canadian broadcaster said.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Tuesday he's known Dechert for a long time and still trusts him.
