Black polyester pants (Updated with Smith comments)

Monique Smith has received dubious recognition in a poll of Queen’s Park reporters.

The poll, conducted by Toronto Sun Queen’s Park columnist Christina Blizzard, listed Peter Kormos, NDP representative for Niagara Centre, as worst-dressed male MPP, and Smith, who represents the Nipissing riding, as the worst-dress female MPP.

"I think Christina Blizzard obviously has her own axe to grind and truly I don’t believe she should be making comments on fashion because she's not exactly a fashion maven herself," Smith said Friday, after handing over a $17,000 Trillium Foundation cheque to the North Bay Baseball Association.

Spirit of consultation
In her column Blizzard said she surveys her press gallery colleagues “for their views on the good, the bad and the sexy among MPPs.”

This year, she said, “in the spirit of consultation so beloved by our new government,” the survey was done scientifically; formal ballots were distributed to each press gallery member.

Blizzard could not be reached for comment.

Ironically Smith had introduced a dress code bill, passed in the legislature, which compels MPPs to wear ties and jackets. She singled out Kormos, who could be often seen in the House sans tie and wearing a white shirt.

Well pressed
Kormos was also nominated in the same poll as best-dressed male MPP for having worn a tuxedo in the House the day Smith’s bill had passed.

“I think it’s payback time by the press galley,” said Kormos, whose worst-dressed status had a “but in a sexy, rumpled kind of way" disclaimer added to it.

But, Kormos said, the Lee-Wah Laundry, in Welland, Ontario, which does his shirts, was not too impressed.

“I’ve got that sexy rumpled look, but I’m well-pressed anyway,” Kormos said.

"Mr. Lee works very hard ironing my shirts and he was very upset with those remarks."

Kormos made reference to “polyester stretch pants,” when asked about Smith’ s fashion sense.

Doesn't play a huge role
Lee Greenberg, Queen’s Park correspondent for the Ottawa Citizen, participated in the poll and believes Smith was chosen not necessarily because she is the worst-dressed female MPP, but because of her dress code bill.

“To be totally honest we don’t really have much of a chance to see what she’s wearing because she doesn’t play a huge role in the day to day affairs of the government,” Greenberg said.

“That bill was her moment in the spotlight and even I forget what she was wearing that day, but that poll result could be a little undeserved and more to do with the bill.”

Greenberg declined to reveal if he’d voted for Smith, saying “I don’t want to tell tales out of school.”

Wear the scars
Smith believes the Toronto media blew the issue of her bill "out of proportion."

"My point was to try to return respect and decorum to the house, and I suppose I’ll have to wear the scars of that for a while," Smith said.

Ottawa MPP Madeleine Meilleur won for best-dress female MPP and Frank Klees, of the Tories, got the nod as best-dressed male MPP.