Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt suspended after 'unacceptable' comment on social media

Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt has been suspended from the caucusdue to an "unacceptable comment" posted on social media, the party said late Friday night.

The comment "does not reflect the values of the Wildrose caucus," leader Brian Jean said in a news release just before midnight.

The original comment, postedby another user, refers to Ontario's premier as "Mr. Wynne."

Fildebrandtresponded,"Proud to have constituents like you!"

Fildebrandt, who is suspended effective immediately,tweeted about the incident on Friday night.

He said he "entirely misread" a comment posted on his Facebook pageabout Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, and that itstands against his views.

Fildebrandt released a statement about the incident on Saturday afternoon, saying he acceptshis party's decision to suspend him.

"My colleagues know that those views do not reflect my own opinion and they recognize that I made an honest mistake, so I was surprised by this decision. I accept this decision," he said in the statement.

CBC reached out toFildebrandtand theWildroseparty for comment Saturday morning. Party spokeswoman Samantha Johnston declined to commentand Fildebrandt referred the CBC to his statement on Facebook.

Wynneheckled in legislature

The incident comes a day after the Wildroseparty ridiculed Wynneduring question period at the legislature on Thursday.

With Wynne looking on from the Speaker's gallery, the Wildrose party demanded to know why she was invited to Alberta while Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall was not.

• Wynne, Ontario, ridiculed by opposition Wildrose in Alberta legislature
• Wildrose attack on Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne draws apology

"Invite Premier Wall here! Invite Premier Wall,"Fildebrandt shouted at Premier Rachel Notley asshe tried to answer a question.

At one point government house leader Brian Mason looked acrossthe aisle at Fildebrandt and said matter-of-factly, "you are sotacky."

Wildrose party apologizes

The Wildrose party then issued an apology on Friday on behalf of Fildebrandt. Wildrose house leader Nathan Coopersaid it was a mistake to insult Wynnewhile she was a guest at the legislature.

"The questions that we asked were fair, but certainly a moreappropriate time could have been found, particularly when a visitingdignitary was not in the gallery," Cooper saidFriday."We didn't have a respectful tone yesterday. We express regretfor how things unfolded."

At the Liberal convention in Winnipeg on Saturday,Wynne took part in an question-and-answer sessionand was asked whether she accepted Derek Fildebrandt's apology.

"Yes, I accept the apology, but I think it was an interesting confluence of things. There's a woman premier in Alberta and there's a woman [in Ontario]. We're talking about climate change," she said.

"And I think the attack, the viciousness of the attack, had a particular quality to it, so I will just say we need to pay attention to it."