Canada MP in hot water over ‘climate Barbie’ sexist remark

A longtime Conservative MP was called out Wednesday for referring to Environment Minister Catherine McKenna as Canada’s “climate Barbie.”

“Has anyone told our climate Barbie!” was the remark of opposition MP Gerry Ritz, a former agriculture minister, on Twitter after he saw a report that said no major industrialized country is on pace to meet targets set out in the Paris climate-change accord.

The Twitter message was removed and Ritz later apologized, saying his comments were “not reflective of the role the minister plays,” but not before McKenna herself took issue with it.

“Do you use that sexist language about your daughter, mother, sister?” McKenna asked in a Twitter message.

“We need more women in politics,” she added. “Your sexist comments won’t stop us.”

In parliament, Liberal ministers heaped criticism on Ritz, who recently announced that he is leaving politics after working in it for two decades.

One example was from Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, who said “Sexism is unacceptable.”

“There’s no room for that kind of ignorance in Canadian politics,” echoed government House leader Bardish Chagger.

“Sexist comments should not be part of the public debate or part of any conversation anywhere, period,” chimed in Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, challenging the opposition leader to denounce his member’s comments and to ask him to apologize.

From New York, meanwhile, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of the prime minister, pleaded at a youth rally for gender equality.