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Alberta’s Notley says she’s ‘bemused’ over Opposition leader’s beating joke

Alberta Opposition Wildrose Leader Brian Jean is apologizing for a remark he made at a public meeting that appeared to intimate violence against NDP Premier Rachel Notley.

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The premier said she has accepted Wildrose Leader Brian Jean’s apology.

“Instead of talking about this, we need to be refocusing our efforts to do whatever we can to address the economic concerns we know many families are struggling with”, she said.

She says Albertans must continue to hold all politicians to a high standard of discourse and, while it’s OK to disagree, it must be done respectfully.

Fort McMurray Today, a local newspaper, says Jean was responding to a question when he made the comment.

At that event, Jean told the audience he will continue to “beat the drum” on critical issues, but said it’s against the law to beat Notley.

Jean said in a statement issued by his office Wednesday morning that he made an “inappropriate attempt at humour” and quickly apologized for it.

Notley has had her image defaced and vandalized online.

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“I think that the debate around it is probably improving the overall level of debate as we go forward, ” she said.

Premier Rachel Notley commented publicly about Wildrose Leader Brian Jean's remarks for the first time Thursday