Calgary MP Rob Anders apologized in the House of Commons Tuesday for lashing out at veterans who accused him of falling asleep at a Veterans Affairs committee meeting last week.
Veterans who were appearing before the committee to speak about their efforts to help homeless vets said Anders fell asleep as they were giving their presentation.
Anders denied that he fell asleep in the meeting, which took place in Halifax, and later lashed out at the veterans who made the accusations, calling them "NDP hacks" and supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I want to apologize for any offence my comments may have caused veterans or anyone else," Anders said.
Anders went on: "I have and continue to have enormous respect for the men and women who have sacrificed in the service of our country. I recognize the democracy we have today is in large part attributable to them."
Anders's apology to the House followed an apology released via the Prime Minister's Office on Friday.
On Monday, NDP veterans affairs critic Peter Stoffer called on Anders to resign from the Veterans Affairs committee.
Stoffer said that Anders, if he felt unwell or tired, "should've excused himself and not have been there in the first place.
"It is an insult to these men and women that volunteered their own time and their own money to help homeless veterans."
Anders has so far rebuffed calls that he resign from the committee, saying he will continue to work for the country's veterans.
Anders has come under fire before for napping on the job. Last year, he was caught on tape nodding off in the House of Commons, a video of which went viral after it was posted to YouTube.
