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An independent Manitoba MLA is under fire on social media for a tweet he sent to a former teacher Thursday, telling her she was his “hottest” teacher, adding he and his classmates had “inappropriate” thoughts about her.

Assiniboia MLA Steven Fletcher sent the tweet Thursday just after lunch.

Ms. Phillips,

Thank you. It's nice to hear from you. You were always my favourite teacher. Given 35 years have passed if I may tell you that you were also the hottest teacher. All the boys loved you in inappropriate ways. :) — Steven Fletcher (@HonSFletcher) August 30, 2018

The response on social media was overwhelmingly negative.

I fixed some of your typos: "Thank you Ms. Phillips. It's nice to hear from you. You were one of my favourite teachers who made learning interesting. Thank you for your long career as an educator." That will be $40 accepted be etransfer because I don't do work for free. — Delaney C (@dlnycrstn88) August 31, 2018

Hey Stephen Fletcher, it's 2018. Maybe try talking to women as if they are people and not objects. — Adrienne Jean (@ohsoretro) August 31, 2018

I suggest you start working on your apology to Ms Phillips, to all women for that matter- this is sexual harassment. — Sheila Watson (@Sheeladeela) August 31, 2018

Whoa! Holy inappropriate Batman. This is sexist and misogynistic and made more so by a position of influence. — Peter MacDougall (@docmacdougall) August 31, 2018

Fletcher told 680CJOB’s Richard Cloutier that the teacher is someone he has known for a long time.

“I was continuing a long-standing awareness that existed between her mom and myself that yes, as a grade school student, in grade 7, grade 8, many of us boys…”

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“You were hot for teacher?” asked Cloutier.

“Yes, and I was truthful about that. And it’s probably inappropriate to be fond of your teacher, but that is the way it goes.” Tweet This

Asked if he would withdraw the tweet, Fletcher said the “issue is between me and the recipient of the who has indicated to me she has no problem, no concern with it. Therefore, I think an issue that is resolved itself.”

Fletcher said people are overreacting.

“What is the problem, is when people take tweets, and go overboard and make statements … and deflect from the actual issues of public policy.

“How much time have we spent on this today?” Tweet This

When asked if he stands by the tweet, Fletcher said he’s sorry it “went public.”

“But I don’t apologize to the person I sent the tweet to because she has no problem with the tweet.”

LISTEN to the full interview:

-With files from Richard Cloutier

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