Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press Kingston and the Islands' Member of Parliament Mark Gerretsen during a funding announcement at Norman Rogers airport in Kingston, Ont. on April 12, 2018.

OTTAWA — A Liberal MP has walked back using the term "fake news" after sparking backlash with a tweet about an award-winning journalist last week.

Mark Gerretsen has since deleted his original tweet where he used the hashtag #FakeNews in an exchange with Global News' chief political correspondent David Akin about the Liberals' election promise to balance the budget.

"I should not have said it, even in jest," the Kingston and the Islands MP said Thursday.

1/2 re: previous tweet to @davidakin - I have a good relationship with @davidakin and we often make comments to each other in jest. There was certainly no ill will intended but I completely understand why my tweet could be interpreted differently. — Mark Gerretsen, MP (@MarkGerretsen) October 25, 2018

2/2 I recognize this is a loaded term and I should not have said it, even in jest. I have great respect for the work that David, the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and all journalists do across the country! — Mark Gerretsen, MP (@MarkGerretsen) October 25, 2018

Akin, for his part, commended Gerretsen's mea culpa and added he "always enjoys being challenged."

Gerretsen's use of the term strayed from his party's concerted effort to advocate press freedoms. All of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mandate letters to his ministers contain a line encouraging "meaningful engagement" with the Parliamentary Press Gallery and journalists.

The term "fake news" has been popularized by U.S. President Donald Trump as a tool to convey his displeasure with critical stories. Journalists have warned its adoption into mainstream vernacular works to erode the value of a free and independent press in a democratic society.