MP’s comment under review, PM says

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a “process is now properly underway” to look into a Liberal MP’s allegedly sexist comment to a Conservative MP.

The Conservatives have been pressuring Trudeau to take action against Liberal MP Nicola Di Iorio, who is accused of making a stripper-related joke about Conservative MP Dianne Watts while they were both at a closed-door committee meeting earlier this month.

According to the National Post, which first reported the story, when Di Iorio heard the colourful ringtone as Watts received a call on her cellphone, he said: “Where’s your pole to slide down on?”

The incident occurred on March 8, International Women’s Day.

Trudeau was asked about the remark during a news conference Friday in Boisbriand, Que.

“One of the things that we brought in a number of years ago around issues such as this, as a part of my commitment to gender equality, to a harassment-free workplace, is ... an actual process that will be there to deal with issues of this sort,” Trudeau said.

“That process is now properly underway.”

In a statement emailed by her office, Watts said the next step is up to Trudeau.

“A suggestive and very inappropriate comment directed at me was made by a Liberal MP during a public safety committee meeting in March which left me, staff, and other members of Parliament feeling very uncomfortable,” Watts said.

“There should be no place or time where such comments are acceptable. I now leave it in the hands of the prime minister to take whatever actions he feels appropriate.”

Liberal MPs are hunkering down for a weekend caucus meeting, where they will get ideas — or perhaps marching orders — on how they can sell the new budget to Canadians.

Trudeau was to open the meeting Friday afternoon before heading down the road to lend highprofile support to Mona Fortier, Liberal candidate in the coming byelection in Ottawa-Vanier.

The budget, which was big on plans and small on spending, will be a main topic of discussion behind closed doors at the two-day caucus meeting.

MPs will talk about ways to help voters understand commitments to invest in skills training, social housing and child care, as well as plans to charge sales tax on ride-sharing services such as Uber.

A move to change the rules of Parliament is also expected to come up, as the Liberals face an ongoing and heated battle with their political rivals over the issue.