Hours after Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt apologized for off-the-cuff comments made about the medical isotope crisis, more taped criticisms of her cabinet colleagues came to light.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the Halifax Chronicle Herald published more comments from Raitt, in which she says she suspects that Environment Minister Jim Prentice redirected money intended for wind power to Alberta's oil sand research.
Her concerns came from a complaint from wind energy producers about budget funding and she suspected the money would be switched to research and development in Prentice's $1-billion Clean Energy Plan.
In the tape, Raitt also worries that she might be blamed by the prime minister for leaking budget discussions.
The rookie MP is speaking to her former communications director, Jasmine MacDonnell, who inadvertently taped the conversation and then lost the recording device.
The newly published comments come hot on the heels of Raitt's apology for calling the medical isotope crisis "sexy" -- which was caught on the same tape.
'Deep regret' expressed
At a brief news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon, Raitt explained that she had not intended to offend cancer victims by her comments.
"Today I want to personally communicate my deep regret for wording I used in a private discussion earlier this year, which was inadvertently recorded," Raitt said.
"As somebody who has, in their personal life, been deeply affected by cancer, my intent was certainly not to show any disrespect for any cancer victims, survivors or their families," she continued. "However, it's clear that these remarks have been interpreted in that way."
Raitt said she wished to offer a "clear apology to anyone who has been offended by what I have said."
She then went on to explain that she lost her father to colon cancer when she was a child, and her brother to lung cancer as an adult.
Visibly emotional, Raitt said she watched her father die over 18 months, while he was suffering from cancer.
She also said her grandfather and grandmother also died from cancer.
The minister then left the news conference without taking any questions.
The opposition continued their attacks on Raitt Wednesday, but focused more on the medical isotopes issue, and toned down their rhetoric on the leaked comments during question period.
There were calls for her resignation from the opposition, but Raitt ignored the issue outright.
In the conversation, Raitt categorized the medical isotope shortage as a "sexy" political issue and disparaged Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq's abilities as a politician.
On the tape, Raitt said the medical isotope shortage has been a difficult political issue "because it's confusing to a lot of people."
However, Raitt added: "But it's sexy ... Radioactive leaks. Cancer."
The conversation, which appears to have taken place not long after a reported heavy water leak at Chalk River, Ont., also includes a discussion about Aglukkaq and her ministry's handling of the isotope file.
"They're terrified of the issues," said Raitt, referring to the Ministry of Health.
"You know what? Good. Because when we win on this, we get all the credit. I'm ready to roll the dice on this."
Tape stirs up a storm
The conversation was made public on Monday afternoon -- less than a week after MacDonnell resigned for leaving sensitive documents at CTV News' Ottawa office.
Prior to Raitt's apology on Wednesday, the head of the Ontario Association of Nuclear Medicine said it was "very inappropriate" for the minister to call the isotope shortage a "sexy" issue.
Dr. Christopher O'Brien said Raitt's comments became public at a time when the crisis is at a breaking point.
"The medical community feels that we are in a crisis situation and statements such as that just diminish the seriousness that the medical isotope crisis is having on patient access for heart disease and cancer," O'Brien told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.
Despite intense pressure, both Raitt and Prime Minister Stephen Harper refused to give an inch on Tuesday, and both stopped short of issuing a formal apology.
