John Tory has apologized for calling an Ottawa university "U of Zero" in a conversation with a student in Toronto.
"I apologize if my remarks offended anyone," the leader of the Ontario Conservative party said in a statement issued early Tuesday morning,
Later, he added he excludes from his apology Senator Hugh Segal, who referred to the University of Ottawa, Segal's own alma mater, in that way 30 years ago while joking with Tory.
"But for anyone else, I issued an apology," he said. "I think the University of Ottawa is a fine institution and this kid took it for what it was, which was a light-hearted reference to something we used to say as college students and I bet they still do."
Tory, who began his campaign a week early, drew fire from the Ontario Liberal party when he made the reference while talking on Monday with a first-year university student in the Toronto riding of Don Valley West who was about to attend the University of Ottawa.
A video of the conversation was later posted on YouTube.
Tory's staff dismissed the remark as a "light-hearted exchange."
But Liberal cabinet minister Jim Watson, a former Ottawa mayor who represents Ottawa West-Nepean, said he wasn't laughing.
"To have a political leader just make a casual and derogatory comment is unbecoming of the office he holds," the minister of health promotion told the Canadian Press. "And I would hope that as opposed to brushing it off as a joke he apologizes publicly to the alumni, students and staff of this great institution."
Tory's media director, Ingrid Thompson, accused the Liberals of blowing the incident out of proportion.
"I think it's obvious that this is a light-hearted exchange between Mr. Tory who was joking with a student," she told the Canadian Press. "It's certainly not anything that would be interpreted by a reasonable person as an insult to an institution that Mr. Tory is quite respectful of, as he is with all educational institutions."
The University of Ottawa has not commented on either the comment or the apology.
With files from the Canadian PressOntario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
