A Tory MPP is in hot water for suggesting a female nominee to the Ontario Energy Board do “something about this coffee” at Queen’s Park.

Randy Pettapiece (Perth-Wellington) made the comment Tuesday morning during a standing committee meeting where Rumina Velshi, an engineer who has two master’s degrees, was also present.

Liberal MPP Daiene Vernile said she and other MPPs were in “disbelief.”

“I was compelled to jump in,” added Vernile (Kitchener Centre). “This is a woman with incredible academic and professional credentials, and that he would order her to go to the kitchen — ‘go to the kitchen,’ he said — and do something about the coffee was demeaning, degrading and, I think, sexist.”

Velshi is the mother of Alykhan Velshi, Tory leader Patrick Brown’s new chief of staff.

She told the Star via email that Pettapiece apologized to her after the meeting, and that she was not offended.

“It was a clumsy attempt at humour,” she said. “During the committee meeting, his comments about my qualifications were entirely positive.”

In a statement, Pettapiece said he was sorry about what was said. “They were made in the spirit of previous comments I, and other members, have made regarding the quality of the coffee. Nevertheless, I apologize to anyone I may have offended. Immediately following the committee proceedings, I apologized to Mrs. Velshi about the regrettable remarks.”

The exchange began after MPPs were asked to discuss a motion regarding Velshi’s appointment.

“Maybe with her background, she could go to the kitchen and get them to do something about this coffee?” Pettapiece said.

Vernile responded: “You want a woman to get coffee for us, is that what you are saying?”

To which Pettapiece replied: “No, do something about it, the taste of it,” later adding he said it because of “her scientific background.”

Vernile said while “the coffee is not good in that committee — however to put that in front of Ms. Velshi is insulting . . . . It was just inappropriate.”

“I have to wonder about the bigger picture, too,” Vernile added. “This is not the first time that this caucus has had an issue with inappropriate remarks being made about female colleagues.”

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She was referring to MPP Jack MacLaren, who took sensitivity training after telling a crude joke aimed at a female MP during a charity fundraiser last March.

Vernile is expected to raise the matter when the committee meets next week, and is looking for a formal apology from Pettapiece to the committee.