OTTAWA — Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unnerved some public servants at the height of the listeriosis crisis by resorting to gallows humour during a conference call about a public health scare that has killed 17 people.
Ritz was also deeply concerned about the political fallout from the listeriosis crisis as the deadly disease claimed more victims in the days before the federal election was called, according to sources in on the crisis call last month.
But that concern apparently didn’t stop Ritz from cracking wise while scientists, bureaucrats and political staff listened in on the Aug. 30th call.
Sources who took notes during the call said Ritz fretted about the political dangers of the crisis, before quipping:
"This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts."
The disease was linked to cold cuts from Maple Leaf Meats.
And when told about a new death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz said: "Please tell me it’s (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter."
Easter is the Liberal critic shadowing Ritz’s Agriculture Department.
About 30 people participated in the Sunday morning call that began after 10 a.m. EDT. Participants included scientists, senior bureaucrats and political staff.
Others on the call included communications staff from the prime minister’s office, most of Ritz’s staff, Health Minister Tony Clement’s policy and communications advisers, and senior public servants including deputy health minister Morris Rosenberg.
Officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provided updates on the disease during the conversation.
The sources who spoke to The Canadian Press did so on condition of anonymity. Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has been relentless in searching for and punishing anyone thought to have provided embarrassing information to reporters.
Ritz emailed an apology he intended to deliver publicly in suburban Ottawa later Wednesday.
"It was a highly stressful time," he said in prepared remarks. "Many people were working countless hours and attending countless meetings to keep on top of the situation. In that context, I made a couple of spur of moment offhand comments. In particular, one about my official opposition critic, whom I have already called to apologize.
"My comments were tasteless and completely inappropriate. I apologize unreservedly."
But Ritz was less contrite when he was asked about his comments after his flight from Saskatoon touched down at the Ottawa airport Wednesday afternoon.
For two minutes Ritz stared ahead as he was peppered with questions about the conference call. His only words were clipped.
"Not right now, guys," he said.
Then: "Get out of my face, please."
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Ritz’s remarks were beyond the pale.
"It was clearly inappropriate," said Kory Teneycke. "It was intended as a joke, but some things are not appropriate to joke about."
He also said Ritz had called Wayne Easter to offer a personal apology.
Teneycke later added: ""A resignation was not offered and none was asked for.""
So far, 17 deaths have been linked to the recall of food products from a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto. Ritz was not the only cabinet minister to quip about the food crisis.
According to the Toronto Star, Health Minister Tony Clement, whose absence from Canada during the tainted meat crisis stirred controversy, introduced himself during a reception at the Denver convention by saying:
"I’m Health Minister Tony Clement, and I have to say I approved this food."
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