There was an angry exchange in the legislature Friday with both parties accusing the other of breaching the confidentiality of community services clients.

It started during question period, with Opposition house leader Steven Myers accusing Community Services Minister Valerie Docherty of naming someone on social assistance during a South Shore Chamber of Commerce meeting.

"If I was your boss, I'd fire you," said Myers.

"Do you think that you deserve to keep your job as minister?"

Myers wasn't at the meeting, but made the claim based on reports he heard.

Docherty responded with her own allegations against Myers and Progressive Conservative Leader Olive Crane.

"That member, along with the leader of the opposition, went to our facility in Tracadie, that are children in my care," said Docherty.

"That is the woman who happens to be a trained social worker, that understands the role of a social worker. She went with that member to see my children. And that is against the role of a social worker, that's against the law. And how dare both of them do that."

Later, outside the legislature, Docherty flatly denied she had named a person on social assistance at a public meeting.

"I did not specifically name names at that meeting," she said.

"I do remember talking about our senior's home repair program, and talking about a senior in the district that benefited from it and the joy she had about knowing she could stay in her home. I never mentioned her name."

When reporters asked Myers about Docherty's accusations, he said he and Crane pulled into the parking lot of the home in Tracadie, and spoke to someone there.

But he said they never went inside, and never spoke to any of the children.