Government House Leader Jerome Kennedy was instructed Monday to withdraw a comment made last week during a heated filibuster, in which he described NDP Leader Lorraine Michael as "nasty."

Kennedy, who had repeatedly denounced Michael and other NDP members for comments and actions last week that had suggested racism might have crept into a long-running debate on access to information law changes, had spoken directly to Michael as he finished speaking on Thursday.

Speaker Ross Wiseman reviewed Hansard, as well as a videotape of Thursday's proceedings, and confirmed that Kennedy had spoken directly to Michael — a breach of parliamentary procedure, through which members are expected to not address each other directly and instead address the Speaker.

Kennedy had said he heard Michael interviewed on CBC Radio, and "she now accused the minister of systemic racism. That kind of commentary is simply uncalled for, and just shows how nasty you really are."

Minutes later, Michael filed a point of order. Wiseman responded it to on Monday afternoon, and upheld Michael's complaint. Last week, Michael was required to withdrawal her original comment about racism.

Kennedy rose for a second or two to withdraw the remark, and said nothing more in the house.

Wiseman cautioned MHAs to observe procedure.

"Be guided by the ruling, because there is a real lesson here," he said, adding that members in the heat of debate should focus "on the issue at hand."