Premier's cleavage sparks Twitter flurry in B.C.
NDP leader asks former MLA to apologize for Twitter comment
B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix has reprimanded former MLA David Schreck for questioning if B.C. Premier Christy Clark was showing too much cleavage in question period on Wednesday.
The political analyst and longtime NDP supporter posted a comment on Twitter suggesting that the premier's clothing was inappropriate and revealed too much cleavage when she appeared in the house.
"Is Premier Clark's cleavage revealing attire appropriate for the legislature?" Schreck posted on Wednesday afternoon, touching off a firestorm on Twitter.
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Is it appropriate to wear low-cut tops in the workplace? Have your say.
Political opponents almost immediately accused him of sexism, but Schreck said he stood by his comment and that the premier should dress appropriately in business attire.
But on Thursday morning, NDP Leader Adrian Dix said he had phoned Schreck and asked him to apologize, after the story appeared in the local media.
"I'll tell you this. Schreck's comments were wrong. I completely disagree with him," said Dix.
Schreck acknowledged later that he had heard from the NDP leader but said he would not apologize.
"Double standards are sometimes an issue faced by women in politics and in the workforce. For men in the legislature the rule is simple, they must wear a jacket and tie; occasionally string ties have been allowed and Harry Bloy has been allowed to wear his scout uniform once a year," he later wrote on his blog, strategicthoughts.com.
"There are no specific dress rules that I know of for women in the legislature, but I think everyone would agree that dress should be appropriate
Clark has yet to comment publicly on the issue."