Fresh from a trip to Asia, Prime Minister Jean Chretien leapt to the defence of his ministers who have admitted to accepting free trips from the Irving family. The PM insists that politicians "have the right to accept hospitality."

Faced with calls to fire Industry Minister Allan Rock, who was the first minister dragged into the scandal, Chretien said there was nothing wrong with friendly visits. He even noted his own fishing trips with son-in-law Andre Demarais, head of power corporation.

"I visit my son-in-law, who has a lake, and I fish with him. And I'm there with my grandson. Perhaps I should confess that." Chretien said.

But the opposition wasn't buying it.

"Is he actually saying his minister's behaviour is unacceptable?" wondered Alliance Leader Stephen Harper.

Chretien, who was in Afghanistan when the story broke last week, says the issue pales in comparison to the problems he saw on his trip.

"When I've been around the world, to come back to Canada to realize that the only thing the opposition has in mind is to destroy the reputation of all the politicians," he said in the House.

"If he wants us to deal with bigger problems, give us the leader with the mandate to deal with them," Harper replied, in an obvious reference to make way for Paul Martin.

Progressive Conservative Party leader Peter MacKay also pressed Chretien to admit the scandal merits firing the ministers involved. But the prime minister shot back at his PC counterpart.

"I wonder what David Orchard would say about the honourable member. After signing a document, making a a promise and double-crossing him," Chretien said over the jeering Commons. "He should be ashamed of himself."

"What an absolutely pathetic answer, but that's what we've come expect from the prime minister," MacKay shouted back.

Environment Minister David Anderson is the latest to admit that he visited the Irving fishing lodge on the Restigouche River in New Brunswick in August 2001. The other ministers implicated are Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw, Fisheries Minister Robert Thibault and Rock.

According to Anderson, his trip wasn't reported because he considered himself a guest of former governor general Romeo LeBlanc, not the Irvings.

But in light of the recent fracas, Anderson said he's reconsidered the propriety of his trip. As a result, he has issued a personal cheque to the Irvings for $1,500 to cover the estimated value of his travel and accommodation.

Liberal guidelines require cabinet ministers to publicly disclose any gifts exceeding $200 in value, and only accept them from individuals and companies with whom they don't do business.

With a report from CTV's Roger Smith