A Canadian Conservative MP has apologised after referring to environment minister Catherine McKenna as "climate Barbie".
Gerry Ritz made the comment on Twitter during an online exchange over a climate-change report. The tweet provoked a furious response from Liberal MPs and others, and was later deleted.
Mr Ritz apologised, saying his comments were "not reflective of the role the minister plays".
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He had taken to Twitter following a report about targets set out in the Paris climate-change accord not being met by major industrialised nations.
n a reply to other Twitter users, he had written: "Has anyone told our climate Barbie!"
Mrs McKenna fired back: "Do you use that sexist language about your daughter, mother, sister?"
"We need more women in politics. Your sexist comments won't stop us," she added.
In parliament, House leader Bardish Chagger said there was "no room for that kind of ignorance in Canadian politics".
"Sexism is unacceptable," echoed Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.
Mr Ritz, who represents a constituency in the province of Saskatchewan, recently announced he was leaving politics after two decades.
Election 2017: Record number of female MPs
There are now 208 women in the Commons, up from 191 in 2015, as a result of Thursday's general election. This takes female representation in the Commons to a new high.
Overall 32% of MPs are women but there are significant variations between parties. For Labour the figure is 45%, and 21% for the Conservatives. This was the breakdown for each party and for the Commons as a whole:
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'Progress stalled'
Sam Smethers, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for women's rights, said: "The outcome of this election was a surprise to many pollsters, but it has seen more Labour women MPs elected. The Conservative Party has not seen a significant reduction in women MPs despite losing seats."But the real story is that progress has stalled. Getting more women in cannot be subject to party political fortunes. As we approach the centenary of women first getting to vote in general elections, we cannot wait for another nine elections to achieve equality.
"We agree with the recommendation of the cross-party Women and Equalities Select Committee that 45% of each party's candidates must be women. The time has come for a legally enforceable target to achieve the radical and sustainable change we need."
Among Labour's new intake was Preet Gill, the UK's first female Sikh MP.
This reached double digits for the first time under Margaret Thatcher in 1987, but shot up as a consequence of Labour's 1997 landslide, when Tony Blair's party increased its number of female MPs by 173%.
Preet Gill elected as first female Sikh MP
The first female Sikh MP has been elected to the Houses of Parliament.
Preet Gill secured 24,124 votes to hold the seat in Birmingham Edgbaston for Labour with a majority of 6,917.The seat had previously been held by Gisela Stuart who stepped down when the election was called.
Ms Gill said after leaving the count at about 05:00 BST, she went to a temple to give a prayer of thanks for her success followed later on by the school run as "life just carries on".
Citing the fight against education cuts as one of her top priorities, said she had a good team of people and had a really "strong" campaign.
"Theresa May clearly thought she had an overwhelming majority, but I saw a different mood out there when campaigning," she said.
West Midlands election results
Find the result where you live
Ms Gill was followed by Conservative Caroline Squire with 17,207 votes.
Lib Dem Colin Green received 1,564 votes, Green candidate Alice Kiff received 562 and Common Good candidate Dick Rodgers secured 155 votes.
Filling the shoes of her predecessor Ms Stuart, whose strength as a local MP was borne out by her holding the seat since 1997, was something Ms Gill said she was well aware of.
"It's been 19 years since Gisela's iconic win and I want to build on the great work she did.
"Our Brexit opinions might not have been the same [Ms Stuart was chair of the victorious Vote Leave campaign] but she was an excellent constituent MP."She said her priorities as an MP were to now get to know people in the different areas and their different issues.
Bus driver father
Being the first female Sikh MP was also a "huge privilege" and she said she hoped she would become "one of many" who would now come forward and get involved."The fact there has never been one before, it's a big issue," she added.
Ms Preet's father came to Birmingham in the 1950s and worked in a factory, becoming the foreman and later a bus driver on the number 11 route in the city which he became known for, she said.
"He was president of the Smethwick gurdwara... and was involved in the community. He was very passionate and active and always said you should contribute and try to give something back.
"He died three years ago but he would have been immensely proud of me becoming an MP."
Overall, she said her win is still sinking in and she was looking forward to "such an amazing opportunity."
Sikh business leaders in the West Midlands have congratulated her on her win saying they had felt under represented in the governmental decision making processes.
Roger Wouhra, from East End Foods - founded by his family in the West Midlands in the 1970s - said her success meant Sikhs would have more of a voice in the House of Commons, especially after Conservative Paul Uppal lost his Wolverhampton seat in 2015.
"It's fantastic news to have a Sikh MP," he said."It's early days but she will be able to speak for Sikhs in the Commons in areas that need addressing."Black Country businessman and local enterprise board member Ninder Johal said it was a "breakthrough" for Sikhs.
"The Sikh community for generations has been a vital contributor to the economy and community, but for too long not represented in the decision making process in the Houses of Parliament.
"It's great that we have someone from the local area as a voice for Sikhs there."
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