British Columbia Premier Christy Clark at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Friday August 26, 2011.Darryl Dyck/ The Canadian Press
Premier Christy Clark says "stupid criticism" from a former NDP MLA about whether she was improperly dressed in the legislature is frustrating because it's the kind of discussion that deters women from entering politics.
"I don't think we can groom a lot of young female leaders if this is the level of comment we have," Ms. Clark told reporters Friday when asked about David Schreck's suggestion she was showing too much cleavage while in the House.
"I'm used to stupid criticism. I get it," said a bemused Ms. Clark, offering her first comments on the matter.
"What I wear is really, I don't think, something people think about a whole lot."
Mr. Schreck, a former special adviser to NDP premiers who currently offers political commentary on air and through a blog, tweeted at length earlier this week that Ms. Clark was improperly dressed in the legislature.
Mr. Schreck's comments prompted a whirlwind of social media response as well as outrage from BC Liberal MLAs, who said his comments were inappropriate.
Adrian Dix, leader of the provincial NDP, told Mr. Schreck to apologize, but he has declined to do so.
Ms. Clark, laughing, said she would not change her dress style.
On a more serious note, however, she said the comments reflect the distinct discussions women in public life face as opposed to men.
"We're still a little bit unusual in politics, and it's not a profession that a lot of women choose," she told reporters.
"I think the damage that this kind of discussion has is that it discourages women from getting into politics. We should be concerned about that. Women are half our society and we all want our daughters to be willing to step up and be leaders one day so I think we should be talking about this stuff less and talking about the issues a lot more."