Environment Minister John Baird urged Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion to "rein in" one of his MPs after the Liberal member wrote on his blog that Quebec separatists are selfish losers and compared them to Albertans.

Baird was referring to comments made by Liberal MP Garth Turner, who praised Dion for going to Calgary to try to sell his carbon tax plan.

"You might not agree with everything the man says, but you have to admire this about him. He stood up once to the self-aggrandizing, hostile, me-first, greedy, macho, selfish and balkanizing separatist losers in Quebec. I guess he can do it again in Alberta," Turner wrote. "Not that there are any similarities."

Baird said Turner's blog is "stirring up a hornets' nest" of past unity problems in eastern Canada.

"It’s time Stephane Dion reined in this senior member of the Liberal team," said Baird, who is accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the G8 summit in Japan.

Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont said Turner's comments were shocking and "insulting to Quebecers." NDP Leader Jack Layton said "this kind of contempt has no place in Canadian politics."

Turner wrote another blog, clarifying his comments.

"In case you missed it, I’m in trouble again," said the outspoken MP, adding that Dion called and "chewed me out."

"Everyone I have heard from tells me this was a mistake. Quebecers tell me they consider such words racist. People like me, they say, encourage separation. Albertans say it’s exactly the sentiment of easterners who want to hobble the West. Others say it takes debate down to the level of Stephen Harper. Dion says it needs to be respectful."

Turner said he has only respect for Quebecers and Albertans and that his attempt to show Dion "has the stones to face down those who think of themselves first, and the country second" only made his task more difficult.

"But there’s no way I, as a federal member of the Canadian House of Commons, am going to lay down before people who openly advocate ripping the country apart," Turner wrote. "Moan all you want about money, or lament those who don’t share your culture or language. But don’t expect me to roll."

Turner's blog has caused problems for him in the past. The former Tory MP was suspended from the Conservative caucus after he made critical comments about the party on his blog. He was also accused of breaching caucus confidentiality.

Turner joined the Liberals soon after.

With files from the Canadian Press

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