One-time Conservative campaign strategist Tom Flanagan has apologized for suggesting that looking at child pornography is “a question of personal liberty” and shouldn't be a crime.

“I absolutely condemn the sexual abuse of children, including the use of children to produce pornography. These are crimes and should be punished under the law,” Flanagan said in a statement.

He said his words were “badly chosen” and apologized “unreservedly to all who were offended by my statement, and most especially to victims of sexual abuse and their families.”

Flanagan, who worked as a campaign manager for Alberta’s Wildrose Party and was once Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s campaign strategist, made the remarks while speaking to students at the University of Lethbridge Wednesday evening.

One of the students asked Flanagan to explain a remark he made in 2009 is which he suggested that looking at child pornography was acceptable.

He responded: "A lot of people on my side of the spectrum, the conservative side of the spectrum, have been on kind of a jihad against pornography and child pornography in particular. And I certainly have no sympathy for child molesters. But I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures.”

The room gasped, and one member in the audience loudly said, "That's disgusting.”

Flanagan continued, as members of the audience booed: “It is a real issue of personal liberty. To what extent do we put people in jail for doing something for which they do not harm another person?”

He then explained that he personally did not view child pornography.

In a bizarre side note, he added that he had been on the mailing list of the national Man Boy Love Association for several years, saying it was a “long story.”

After video of the exchange was uploaded to YouTube, Flanagan’s comments were swiftly condemned by the Prime Minister’s Office, Conservative politicians and the University of Calgary, where Flanagan teaches.

The PMO said Flanagan’s remarks were “repugnant, ignorant and appalling.”

Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith issued a statement saying: “There is no language strong enough to condemn Dr. Flanagan’s comments.”

“Child pornography is a despicable crime that seriously harms all those involved, including the viewer. The viewing of child pornography first requires the production of child pornography, which causes untold suffering and abuse towards children," she said.

“To be clear, Dr. Flanagan does not speak for me or the Wildrose caucus and he will have no role – formal or informal – with our organization going forward.”

Alberta Premier Alison Redford says Flanagan's remarks turned her stomach and are a perfect example of an ideological argument taken too far.

University of Calgary also issued a statement saying Flanagan’s comments do not represent the school’s views.

“In the university's view, child pornography is not a victimless crime,” university president Elizabeth Cannon said. “All aspects of this horrific crime involve the exploitation of children. Viewing pictures serves to create more demand for these terrible images, which leads to further exploitation of defenseless children.”

Cannon added that Flanagan has been on a research and scholarship leave from U of C since the beginning of the year and would retire from the university on June 30.

CBC, which uses Flanagan as a political commentator, announced it was cutting ties with him.

“In light of recent remarks made by Tom Flanagan at the University of Lethbridge, CBC News has taken the decision to end our association with him as a commentator on Power and Politics,” the network said in a statement.

“While we support and encourage free speech across the country and a diverse range of voices, we believe Mr. Flanagan's comments to have crossed the line and impacted his credibility as a commentator for us."

The Manning Centre for Democracy, a conservative-led think tank hosting a conference in Ottawa next week, also cancelled a planned speech from Flanagan.

Prime Minister Harper’s press secretary, Andrew MacDougall, distanced his party from Flanagan on Thursday, saying he had had nothing to do with Conservative policy or positions for years. He added that Flanagan’s remarks were erroneous and that child pornography does hurt children both at the time of the abuse, as well as long after.

With files from The Canadian Press

Tom Flanagan’s apology:

"I absolutely condemn the sexual abuse of children, including the use of children to produce pornography.

These are crimes and should be punished under the law. Last night, in an academic setting, I raised a theoretical question about how far criminalization should extend toward the consumption of pornography.

My words were badly chosen, and in the resulting uproar I was not able to express my abhorrence of child pornography and the sexual abuse of children.

I apologize unreservedly to all who were offended by my statement, and most especially to victims of sexual abuse and their families."