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Canadian lawmaker sorry for calling environmental leader 'climate Barbie'

By Eric DuVall
A Conservative Canadian lawmaker apologized Thursday for calling Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna, seen here at the G7 conference in June, "climate Barbie." File photo by Giorgio Benevenuti/EPA
A Conservative Canadian lawmaker apologized Thursday for calling Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna, seen here at the G7 conference in June, "climate Barbie." File photo by Giorgio Benevenuti/EPA

Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A Conservative Canadian lawmaker apologized Wednesday for calling Environmental Minister Catherine McKenna "climate Barbie" on Twitter.

Responding to a news report about nations failing to stay on track to meet emissions targets under the Paris climate accord, Canadian MP Gerry Ritz referred to the blonde-haired McKenna by saying, "Has anyone told our climate Barbie!"

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McKenna quickly countered the insult.

"Do you use that sexist language about your daughter, mother, sister?" McKenna asked. "We need more women in politics. Your sexist comments won't stop us."

Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer released a statement saying Ritz's tweet was out-of-step with the party's message to women -- and said it has "no place in the Conservative caucus."

"I have a positive message to deliver to Canadians and I expect all members of my caucus to embrace that approach when communicating with Canadians," Scheer said.

Ritz later deleted the tweet.

"I apologize for the use of Barbie, it is not reflective of the role the minister plays," he said.

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