The Liberal Women's Caucus is demanding an apology from those who publicly uttered sexist remarks against the government's new cabinet minister Belinda Stronach.

Stronach defected to the Liberal Party from the Conservatives on Tuesday -- a move which inspired a few current and former members of the Tory party to castigate her with attacks that some say cross the line.

"I think it's important that we try to raise the level of discourse and debate and they shouldn't be reduced to the kinds of throw-away comments that people are clearly using last night and this morning," said Liberal MP Judy Sgro.

"So I would call on Mr. Harper to apologize to Ms. Stronach and to women of Canada, and ask his colleagues to very much do the same so that we can try and restore some level of respect and discussion here in Ottawa."

Stronach's decision to leave the Conservatives and join the Liberal Party, where she was given a plum cabinet post, sent shockwaves from Parliament right across the country.

Former Ontario cabinet minister Bob Runciman called Stronach a "dipstick."

"An attractive one, but still a dipstick, with what she's done here today," he said in an interview with Toronto's CFRB Radio on Tuesday.

Tony Abbott, a Tory member of the Alberta legislature, went further, saying Stronach had "whored herself out for power."

Later, Abbott maintained his remark was not sexist.

"It wasn't sexist in the political context, it could be said of a man or woman," Abbott said later.

Abbott's earlier metaphor was repeated by Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott.

"Some people prostitute themselves for different costs or different prices," he told the Regina Leader-Post.

"She sold out for a cabinet position."

In a news conference in Ottawa Wednesday morning, the Liberal women's caucus said the three men were "egregious" and "misogynist" in their remarks.

"Ms. Stronach is a person of great accomplishment," said Ontario Liberal MP Sarmite Bulte.

"If this had been a man, as in the case of Scott Brison who crossed the floor, this would not have taken place."

Brison, now the public works minister under the prime minister, was also once a Conservative member.

"It's been said criticism is expected, understandable. Sexism is not," said Ontario Liberal MP Susan Kadis.

"The bottom line is that Ms. Stronach's statements were not gender-based, but the response, disappointingly, was very much overtly gender-based," said Kadis.

When asked by a reporter if friendly comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan about Stronach's "great shoes" were also sexist, Bulte said it isn't the same thing.

"Being called a whore, a dipstick, is different than being told that one has fashionable shoes."

As for Stronach herself, she said: "I'm not going to get negative and mean-spirited. I don't think that's called for. quite frankly, I think Canadians and people are sick of that kind of behaviour."

Stronach, meanwhile, was cheered heartily Wednesday as she joined her new party at their weekly caucus meeting.

McLellan told Stronach that her jump to the governing party "took courage and it took guts."

Stronach's move to the Liberals narrows the gap in a crucial confidence vote Thursday evening in the House of Commons.

With files from The Canadian Press