Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay again denied he referred to Liberal MP Belinda Stronach as a dog, in his first appearance in the House of Commons since he is alleged to have made the slur.

MacKay, who has been out of the country, took only one question Wednesday about the comment, saying he made "no such gesture" or "derogatory or discriminatory remark toward any member of this House."

House leader Rob Nicholson said the Speaker of the House had already addressed the situation involving Peter MacKay's alleged slur.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

House leader Rob Nicholson took followup questions about the incident, saying the Speaker of the House had already addressed the situation.

Speaker Peter Milliken said he couldn't rule on the matter because there is no official record of the comment in Hansard, the official record of the House of Commons, and the audio tape of the proceedings is not clear enough.

"He's hiding behind a technicality on the Speaker's ruling because the Speaker did not hear it," said Manitoba MP Anita Neville.

"To stand up and in a boldface way say he didn't say it is total disrespect," she added.

The alleged incident took place during last Thursday's parliamentary debate about the Tories' clean air plan.

One Liberal MP asked MacKay about the impact of pollution on humans and animals, adding: "What about your dog?"

MacKay allegedly motioned in response toward Stronach's vacant seat and replied: "You already have her."

MacKay has stood firm and denied making the remark, although eight Liberal MPs have sworn legal affadavits as to what they heard.

"I said what I said, he said what he said, I heard what I heard," said David McGuinty, who was involved in the exchange with MacKay.

Stronach, a former Conservative leadership contender, had a high-profile breakup with MacKay when she crossed the floor to join the Liberals in May 2005.

The couple had been dating for months and MacKay retreated to his father's farm in Lorne, N.S., giving several emotional interviews with a dog by his side and declaring his heart was "a little banged up."