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The debate over Montreal’s $6.17-billion budget veered Wednesday into a discussion of whether it was sexist to use a French expression for having your cake and eating it, too.

Accusing Mayor Valérie Plante’s administration of out-of-control spending, opposition leader Lionel Perez said the administration wanted “le beurre, l’argent du beurre et le sourire de la crémière” (the butter, the money from the butter and a smile from the dairy maid).

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Majority leader François Limoges charged Perez with sexism, claiming his use of the expression was a reference to Plante’s well-known smile. Council speaker Cathy Wong agreed and told Perez to choose a different figure of speech.

Outraged, Perez insisted his use of the time-honoured expression during a 40-minute speech was not sexist.

“I’m absolutely disgusted,” an emotional Perez said outside the council chamber to journalists for the Montreal Gazette and Radio-Canada.