Conservative Member of Parliament Garnett Genuis has refuted allegations that his remarks in the House were homophobic. The incident occurred during the question period on Wednesday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused a Conservative MP of making “casual homophobic comments” during a discussion on the government’s controversial acquisition of a luxury apartment for its consul general in New York, without mentioning Genuis by name.
While highlighting the condo’s features, including a “handcrafted copper soaking tub,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre inquired if Trudeau had visited Consul General Tom Clark at the new residence during his recent U.S. trip. According to the House of Commons transcript, during Trudeau’s response emphasizing Clark’s role in engaging with international leaders, an unidentified MP interjected, asking, “Does he engage with them in the bathtub?”
In a video from the House of Commons, Genuis, who represents the Alberta riding of Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, can be seen saying “bathtub,” although the full comment was not captured by the microphones. On the following day, Genuis stood in the House to clarify that his comment was not intended to be homophobic.
“The purpose of that remark is to demonstrate that meetings do not occur in the bathtub. A luxurious bathtub is irrelevant to meetings,” he explained. “It had no sexual connotation. I was not thinking in that manner at all.”
Before Genuis addressed his remarks, NDP MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton-Strathcona) requested Speaker Greg Fergus to urge the Conservative MP to retract and apologize for his alleged homophobic comment.
Liberal MP Rob Oliphant expressed skepticism towards Genuis’s defense, stating, “If the consul general in New York were a woman and was treated in a similar manner in this House, there would be an outcry.” He emphasized that every member should be concerned as it was deemed a homophobic slur. Oliphant called for Fergus to conduct a further investigation into the incident, to which Fergus responded that he would consider the request.
The situation has sparked controversy and calls for accountability within the parliamentary setting.
