Rae apologizes for Liberal MP’s assertion that Alberta Tories should ‘go home’

OTTAWA – Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae has apologized for a colleague who suggested Alberta Conservative MPs are shills for the oil industry and should go home.

Rae says Ottawa MP David McGuinty’s comments were a mistake and certainly not helpful, coming less than a week before a Calgary byelection in which the Liberals have high hopes of an upset.

McGuinty himself has not apologized and has not responded to requests to explain his remarks.

Rae says the MP, who did not attend the Liberals’ weekly caucus meeting today, is away on family business until next week.

In McGuinty’s absence, Rae is offering his own unequivocal apology on behalf of the party.

He says he has not yet decided whether McGuinty should be stripped of his post as the party’s natural resources critic.