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Edmonton-Spruce Grove MP Rona Ambrose yesterday defended calling a Liberal cabinet minister an "old white guy" while critics on both sides of the day care debate derided her for her comment.
"There are white guys in suits on both sides of the house. There have been white guys in suits making policy on everything we do ... her position (on child care) really promotes exploitation of women," said Monica Lysack, executive director of the Canada Child Care Advocacy Association.
Ambrose made the comments in the House on Tuesday after an exchange with Social Development Minister MP Ken Dryden about a national day care policy.
She said "working women want to make their own choices, we don't need old white guys telling us what to do."
She said yesterday she didn't mean to offend Dryden, just to bring to light that a lot of parents want the option of staying at home with their kids.
But University of Alberta sociologist Dr. Amy Kaler warned that Ambrose was trying to "position herself as the voice of real parents or real working moms."
"I think that's out of line," Kaler said. "Ultimately, day care is a benefit to society - it's comparable to a functioning health- care system or a functioning police system."
- reprinted from the Edmonton Sun