Considering all the political challenges facing British Columbia, Premier Christy Clark probably was not expecting her cleavage to become the hot topic in the legislature this week.
Former NDP MLA and political blogger David Schreck has been widely criticized after he tweeted, "Is Premier Clark's cleavage revealing attire appropriate for the legislature?" during B.C's question period Wednesday.
Clark was wearing a black V-neck shirt under a beige blazer at the time.
She called the criticism "stupid."
"I don't think we can groom a lot of young female leaders if this is the level of comment we have," she told reporters Friday.
On Thursday, NDP Leader Adrian Dix demanded Schreck, a longtime supporter, apologize for the matter.
"Mr. Schreck's comments were wrong," Dix said. "I know how hard it is to be in politics, and I think it's probably hard for Mrs. Clark as well. There are challenges every day for her and her family."
But Schreck defended his comments, both on his blog and to CTV.
"Charges had been made that I am a prude and a sexist dinosaur," Schreck complained on his blog, saying one journalist called him a "dirty old man."
He said his comments were not sexist, and were only about the strict dress code for MLAs.
"It's none of that," Schreck told CTV British Columbia. "It's a fair statement on what is appropriate attire in the legislature."
"If you come into the legislature as a man without a tie, the Sergeant-at-Arms will approach you and tell you to leave. Certainly if you're representing the province as the premier, you dress for the occasion -- and showing substantial cleavage is not appropriate."
Liberal MLA and cabinet minister Mary Polak was furious, telling a local newspaper that the comment was a sexist attack on the premier, intended to undermine her credibility.
She said it is comments such as Schreck's that keep women out of politics.
"We're working very hard to encourage more and more women to enter politics. It's a difficult thing to convince them of, and comments like this just make it that much harder," she told CTV British Columbia.
