MONTREAL -- The Quebec government says it will re-evaluate the $120,000 annual public funding it gives to the province's biggest women's federation after its president suggested that heterosexual relationships should be banned.

Gabrielle Bouchard, president of the Federation des femmes du Quebec, made the controversial comment Tuesday on Twitter, before issuing an apology on Facebook and during televised media interviews later in the day.

Bouchard says her original tweet was in reaction to news that a man out on parole after being convicted of killing his female partner had been arrested in the slaying last week of a 22-year-old woman in Quebec City.

In it she said heterosexual relationships were violent, mostly based on religion and possibly should be banned.

Labour and Social Solidarity Minister Jean Boulet said he will analyze whether the organization still qualifies for its annual subsidy in light of Bouchard's comments.

He said in an interview that Bouchard's words were unacceptable and lacked respect, but that he felt her apology was also sincere.

Les relations de couple hétérosexuel sont vraiment violentes. En plus, la grande majorité sont des relations basées sur la religion.



Il est peut être temps d'avoir une conversation sur leur interdiction et abolition — Gabrielle Bouchard (@__Gabbrielle___) January 28, 2020

The outcry that followed prompted Ms. Bouchard to back off. She publicly apologized, calling her statement "extremely clumsy."

The Federation des femmes du Quebec said its presidents tweets did not represent the position of the organization.