Stockwell Day’s admission on national television that he carries a “murse” - a male purse - has understandably provoked curiosity. Colour? Leather or canvas? Make? What does he carry in it? Why?
First, the background: On CTV’s Power Play last night, Mr. Day was asked about his new role as Treasury Board president and how tightly he will be controlling the “purse” strings.
“I call it ‘murse’ because I carry one,” he said. “That’s a male purse. We don’t confine it just to purses.”
So what about this ministerial murse? It is dark brown leather; no designer label. He often forgets it and so it is a constant source of stress for his staff. His communications assistant, Melisa Leclerc, says she usually ends up carrying her purse and her boss’s murse on trips as he is forgetful.
In an email to The Globe today, Mr. Day explained that “'purse’ is gender bias. Men spend, too, so we also need ‘murse’ tightening."
So what does he use his for?
"I can’t stand loose change in my pocket. Or my BB. My ‘murse’ is just large enough to carry a few legal documents, passport, wallet, small change purse, business cards and personalized note cards, mints, hand sanitizer, family photo and latest book I am reading.”
He added: “And yes, some of my buddies razz me about carrying a ‘murse.’ I tell them to get over it.”
