Editorial Note: If this story is indeed correct, Member of Parliament Ms. Carolyn Parish should be asked to resign, or should be subjected to a Parliamentary Ethics disciplinary action for her indiscrete and diplomatically damaging comment to good relations with Canada's best ally, most significant trading partner and friendly neighbour. It is time that the irresponsible loud mouths be held to account for their actions, and it would be appropriate for her to give up her seat in Parliament. The Canadian public should not again mindlessly re-elect such careless cavalier individuals to important positions as Member of Parliament.

OTTAWA - It was damned bastards last year, "idiots" this year.

Member of Parliament Carolyn Parrish had said she hated "damned Americans" and called them bastards in the run-up to the Iraq war. She found a new moniker, idiots, Wednesday in discussing the planned U.S. missile defense system.

"We are not joining the coalition of the idiots. We are joining the coalition of the wise," the Liberal legislator told a small group of demonstrators.

Parrish, who had to apologize for her "bastards" remarks last year, at first denied using the term idiots, and when reporters pointed out they had her remarks on tape, she said: "I don't mean Americans are idiots."

"The world respects Canada. If we were to join this then it will be giving credibility to what they're doing," she said.

Parrish then begged reporters not to use the remarks: "Please guys don't put that on tape," she said. "I already got into trouble once.... Really, please, I've had enough trouble."

The top spokeswoman for former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Francoise Ducros, had to resign in 2002 for calling President George W. Bush a bastard.

Chretien's successor, Prime Minister Paul Martin, has pledged to put relations with Canada's largest trading partner on a warmer footing.

Source: Reuters News