EDMONTON -- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ric McIver says he will apologize for insubordination following a legislature contretemps with Speaker Bob Wanner.

But McIver says the ruckus raises important questions about the Speaker's role as an impartial referee of Alberta's democratic debate.

McIver told reporters Tuesday morning he will apologize to the assembly later in the day because it's required for him to re-take his seat in the chamber.

"But I can tell you what I'm not apologizing for," said McIver. "I'm not apologizing for standing up to have the rulings of the house made in an unbiased way.

"I'm not apologizing for standing my ground. I'm not apologizing for insisting that private member's business gets to be made in an open way."

McIver was escorted out of the house by the sergeant-at-arms Monday when he refused to sit down after accusing Wanner of prejudging a decision against him.

It was a rare and dramatic event in Alberta's legislature.

It began late in the afternoon when McIver moved a private member's motion -- an effectively symbolic gesture -- affirming the principle that parents have a say in where and how their children are educated.

Such motions are usually allowed to stand or receive friendly amendments.

But this time the NDP caucus decided to introduce an amendment saying that choice should be available in instances where alternatives are not available in the public system.

McIver felt was out of bounds, saying it undercut the intent of his original motion.

The two sides then argued over whether the motion should be allowed before Wanner read out his decision in favour of the NDP.

However, the reasons for Wanner's decision had already been printed word for word on a piece of paper before the debate had even begun.

That piece of paper was accidentally given to McIver. He then took to his feet to accuse Wanner of prejudging the debate in favour of the NDP caucus, of which Wanner is a member.

"This is not the way you run a legislature," McIver said to Wanner.

When McIver refused to take his seat unless Wanner reversed his decision, Wanner ordered him out.

On Tuesday morning, Wanner told the house that the piece of paper had come from the officials who sit at the table in front of him in the chamber.

He said to keep the business of the house flowing, the officials sometimes anticipate arguments and research an issue to get timely advice to him.

Wanner says the piece of paper was simply advice and nothing more and inadvertently went to McIver.

"I want to assure members that I had not seen the amendment before it was introduced in the assembly," said Wanner.

"I did listen and will always listen to the arguments very carefully on any decisions on rulings in this assembly.

"But the decisions in the assembly are mine and mine alone."

Wanner fulfils a crucial role in the legislature. While he is a member of the governing caucus he is expected to act as an impartial referee in the legislature to respect the rights of all members.

Premier Rachel Notley and house leader Brian Mason, speaking to reporters in Red Deer, said house procedure dictates that Wanner's table officers receive amendments and other house tablings hours ahead of time to make sure they are in order.

Mason said that was done in this case.

Mason and Notley said their caucus respects the firewall that exists between it and Wanner in his role as Speaker and dismissed any suggestion of impropriety.

"The question is rather offensive," said Mason.

"We had no input to that whatsoever, and I want to make that perfectly clear."

Also Tuesday, the NDP caucus withdrew the amendment that caused the conflict in the first place.