Manitoba's government house leader apologized Wednesday after a Conservative member of the legislature said he was called a "fascist" by an NDP cabinet minister.

Opposition critic Reg Helwer, who is of German descent, said he was responding to the government's throne speech on Tuesday when Municipal Affairs Minister Drew Caldwell heckled him.

The remark was not recorded in Hansard, the official record of debate in the house, but Helwer reacted to the comment. He told the legislature the insult was unacceptable and has damaged his reputation.

"The word fascist conveys anger ... hatred. It is a word filled with emotion," Helwer said. "I have many friends in the Jewish community. I now have to answer to them when someone has called me a fascist.

"That has an impact on my integrity, on my reputation and how people view me as a member of this legislature."

Helwer said he debated whether to raise the issue and decided it was too important to ignore. He said people are talking about it in his home constituency in Brandon. Caldwell also holds a seat in the city.

"I can't say enough about how this horrible word, uttered by the member from Brandon East, has had an effect on my reputation," Helwer said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I have heard words such as this in the playground because Helwer is a German name.

"My great-grandparents came from Germany after the First World War ... Fascism was not a part of their world at that time."

Caldwell did not immediately respond to the allegation. A spokesperson said he was at a funeral on Wednesday.

House leader Dave Chomiak apologized to the legislature on Caldwell's behalf and called the word reprehensible.

"Clearly that word directed at a member is not appropriate," Chomiak told the Speaker.

Outside the legislature, Chomiak said he hadn't spoken to Caldwell but had no reason to doubt Helwer's word. Caldwell was probably "charged with emotion" and will apologize, he said.

"It's a terrible word. It's a lousy word. It shouldn't be used in public discourse."

Speaker Daryl Reid called it a "very serious matter" and said he will review the exchange. Reid suggested that if Caldwell wanted to apologize to the legislature, he should do so himself.

"This is our workplace," he said. "We want to make sure we conduct ourselves in a dignified way and we act with respect toward each other."