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EDMONTON — Alberta’s deputy premier is apologizing for a comment in which she accused the Opposition Wildrose party of hanging out with “sewer rats.”

Sarah Hoffman said she was sorry on the record in the legislature on Tuesday and repeated her apology later outside the house.

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“I apologize to members of the assembly and also to anyone else who was offended by those remarks,” said Hoffman, who also serves as health minister.

“I spent many years in public education (and) I encouraged students to use their words with caution and choose them wisely, and I failed to do so.”

Hoffman said it was an off-the-cuff remark.

“There’s no excuse,” she said. “Any time you start trying to justify using words that are hurtful and full of vitriol, it only perpetuates the issue further.

“I have certainly been on the receiving end of many of those. I wish I would have gotten a clean apology, and I’m doing that as well.”