Several MPs say Environment Minister Catherine McKenna’s appearance before the House environment committee Tuesday was one of the most tense meetings they’ve ever attended.

“I have never, in my 12 years here on Parliament Hill, seen such a partisan presentation from a minister,” said Conservative MP Ed Fast.

“This should be an embarrassment to her.”

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice echoed that sentiment.

“There was a lot of tension today. I [have] rarely [seen] that kind of attack back and forth,” he said.

“ I think in my last seven years, it was the worst.”

The exchange, which took place as McKenna’s young daughter watched from the chairs placed behind her mother, came after a series of squabbles between the minister and some Conservative MPs. Last year, Conservative MP Gerry Ritz was forced to apologize after he called McKenna “Climate Barbie” on Twitter. The Tories have also been vocal in their opposition to her carbon tax plan.

In her opening statement, McKenna slammed the Conservatives for the former government’s environmental record. Things picked up during the first Tory question when Conservative MP Joël Godin accused her of delivering an overly partisan opening statement. In response, McKenna pointed out the Conservatives had attacked one of her public servants in a committee meeting.

“I do not like seeing attack ads using my public servants. And that was a Conservative attack ad, using my public servant who was talking about carbon pricing. I take great offence with that and I think Canadians take great offence,” she said.

Fast wasn’t having it.

“With respect, you’re in a political arena and if you’re going to be partisan at committee, you can expect an equivalent response,” he said.

As the questioning went on things continued to spiral downwards. MPs gestured dramatically and cried “point of order” until Chair Deb Schulte managed to restore calm.

That quickly evaporated, however, when the second round of Conservative questions hit.

“Minister, it seems like you really don’t want to be here this morning and thank you very much for that super classy opening,” Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie said.

McKenna replied that she was “very happy to be here.”

The two then engaged in a tense Q and A. As Liberals balked from the other side the room, Kusie interrupted every answer McKenna gave.

After the chair chastised Kusie and told her to give McKenna the time to answer, tensions simmered slightly.

Things went one more round before the meeting ended.

“You didn’t do yourself a service, I will tell you, by going on an attack for a 10-minute presentation and then, when Mr. Boulerice asks a question, you talk about ‘it’s important that we all work together,'” Fast said. “Suddenly there’s a kumbaya moment? I think you can do better, Madam Minister.”

McKenna took that opportunity to point out once more that the Tories attacked one of her public servants who had appeared before the committee.

It’s not clear who she was referring to.

“Unfortunately, the Conservatives — they spend a lot of time focusing on things that aren’t real facts,” she told iPolitics afterwards.

Kusie came away unimpressed.

“She clearly does not know her facts. I would advise that she check her facts before coming to us in regards to our facts,” Kusie said. “In my brief time here on the Hill, the 16 months since I’ve been elected, I would say that this was the most confrontational partisan, biased presentation I’ve seen by a minister to date.”

The committee has yet to post the date of its next meeting — which might give some members time to cool off.

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