Ontario Attorney General Caroline Mulroney takes her seat as the Ontario Legislature holds a midnight session to debate a bill that would cut the size of Toronto city council, in Toronto, on Monday, September 17, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO — After an all-nighter at Queen’s Park, the Progressive Conservative government condemned “paternalistic” attacks on Attorney General Caroline Mulroney.

Mulroney has found herself in the crosshairs after Premier Doug Ford announced last week that his government would use the notwithstanding clause to circumvent the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and downsize Toronto’s city council.

It’s the first time the clause — in Section 33 of the Constitution — has been used in Ontario.

[READ MORE: Protests rock Queen’s Park as MPPs debate overriding charter of rights]

Women’s Issues Minister Lisa MacLeod said she takes issue with attacks in the legislature and online that suggest Mulroney should be deferring to her father’s (former prime minister Brian Mulroney) opinion on the notwithstanding clause. (The longtime opponent of the clause said last week he thinks it’s a “problem” that a government can override the courts.)

MacLeod told reporters Monday afternoon the criticism “borderlines on misogyny and sexism.”

Global News reported that an NDP MPP heckled Mulroney during question period last week by asking the minister what her dad thought of her actions in government.

On social media, prominent and anonymous commentators frequently turn to similar questions with taunts such as: “listen to your dad,” “call your dad,” and “take your dad’s advice.”

MacLeod said the comments show a “very paternalistic approach by telling Ms. Mulroney she’s not capable enough to think on her own — when she is.”

Here's an innovative idea: Follow the views of your father, Bill Davis and Roy McMurtry and show public respect for the rule of law. You have a superb future in politics as leader of a truly Progressive Conservative Party if you follow YOUR values and resign as AG. Please RT https://t.co/NlhpDOmGtj — Charles E Pascal (@CEPascal) September 15, 2018

In response to a question from PC MPP Lindsey Park, who also called out the commentary, MacLeod told the legislature the criticism is “shameful, it’s disgraceful, and it should not be tolerated.”

City News and Queen’s Park Today reported similar heckles in the legislature last week, but don’t specify whether they came from the public gallery or from other MPPs. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Monday she personally hasn’t used that language, but she wouldn’t speak for the rest of the caucus.

[READ MORE: Chretien, Romanow, McMurtry condemn Ford’s use of notwithstanding clause]

Horwath said Mulroney should be tested on her own merits and not her father’s, but also called the complaints raised by MacLeod and Park “spin” and “red herrings.”

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter said she hadn’t “noticed” any sexist comments made to Mulroney, but said that if it is happening, it’s “inappropriate.”

Reporters asked to speak with Mulroney after question period on Monday; she was not made available.

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