Source: CTV, Canadian Press via Chronicle Journal, CBC
REGINA -- A Saskatchewan Conservative MP as well as the province’s premier were quick to apologize Thursday after the release of a 16-year-old videotape that contained sexist, racist and homophobic comments.

"I just want to publicly say that I am truly, truly sorry. I’m ashamed for the comments," member of Parliament Tom Lukiwski said in Ottawa.

A flush-faced Lukiwski offered his apologies to reporters in Ottawa on Thursday, but would not answer questions on whether he would resign.

"If I could take those comments back, I would," said Lukiwski, the Conservative MP for Regina Lumsden-Lake Centre. "I would give anything to take those comments back. They do not reflect the type of person that I am. I can only say that on behalf of myself, my family and my children, I am sorry. I am ashamed."

On the tape, Lukiwski says, "Let me put it to you this way -- there's As and Bs. The As are guys like me. The Bs are homosexual faggots with dirt under their fingernails that transmit diseases.''

NDP MP Bill Siksay raised the issue in the House of Commons Thursday, reading a transcript of the comments. Siksay demanded that Lukiwski immediately apologize or face disciplinary action.

Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan replied that he was not familiar with the tape, but said the comments sounded "distressing and inappropriate" and that they'll be given "due attention."

Following question period, Lukiwski apologized during a scrum with reporters.

"Obviously I just found out in the last 30-40 minutes that some comments I made back in 1991 have been made public and I just want to publicly say I am truly, truly sorry," said Lukiwski.

Lukiwski said he doesn't currently share the views expressed on the tapes.

Pat Atkinson, the Saskatchewan NDP’s deputy house leader, said the tape appears to have been made during the 1991 provincial election campaign. Lukiwski was a Tory organizer at the time and Wall was a ministerial aide.

Her party found the tape after moving into Opposition offices last fall following a loss to Wall’s Saskatchewan Party.

She said there were also remarks on the video directed at the provincial Liberal leader at the time, Lynda Haverstock, about her gender.

They noted the irony of what happened to the last MP in the riding. Then-opposition leader Stephen Harper immediately ousted Lukiwski’s predecessor, Larry Spencer, from the Canadian Alliance caucus in 2003 when he suggested homosexuality should be made illegal again.

"The previous Conservative member for this same riding - Mr. Spencer - was dumped by his party for similarly offensive attitudes," said Liberal MP Ralph Goodale.

"Will the government House leader require the member to step aside today from his duties as parliamentary secretary until this matter can be properly investigated and resolved?"

At a press conference in Regina Thursday, Deputy Saskatchewan NDP leader Pat Atkinson said Wall's comments appear to make fun of Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow, who defeated the provincial Tories in the 1991 election.

"They're done in the context of Mr. Romanow and his descent, his ethnic background,'' Atkinson said. "I would say that he is using an immigrant accent of some kind and he is referring in the end to Mr. Romanow.''

Wall also apologized for his comments later in the day on Thursday. He said, "It just never was then, and neither would it ever be, in any way an attempt to slight any group," Wall said.

Full article: CTV.ca | Tory MP apologizes for anti-gay comments | CTV
Saskatchewan MP apologizes for anti-gay slur | CBC
Tory MP Lukiwski apologizes for anti-gay remarks made on tape found by Sask NDP | Chronicle Journal (CP)