locals. Duff Conacher, founder of Democracy Watch, asked Martin to disclose the exact amount each of the two dozen organizations has donated to the trust fund set up to pay off his legal bill. "You're not allowed to be in the appearance of a conflict of interest, even if the gift does not change your mind from what you already believed. You can't have it. If you have that, you don't have democracy. You have a system of where the dollar wins and that's not democracy," said Conacher. Martin said it would be "ludicrous" to think the donations would influence his position on labour issues saying that "If anybody thinks I could become more friendly to trade unions, then they don’t know me very well," adding "I’m a socialist and trade unionist and former head of the carpenters’ union in Manitoba." In two instances, the ethics commissioner directed Martin to return more than $20,000 involving donations from two unions that he had dealings with as an MP. Underwear comments in House of Commons After standing in the House of Commons during a procedural vote, which is against protocol, Martin said that his tight underwear required him to stand. The comments trended across Twitter and made international headlines including CNN’s Ridiculist. Martin later admitted that the story was fabricated. Comments during 2015 federal election During the 2015 Canadian federal election, Martin called Don Woodstock, the Green Party candidate, a "son of a bitch" and at a later time was caught calling him a "fucking prick" during a debate on issues affecting downtown Winnipeg in which Woodstock questioned Martin's record on mental health issues. Martin also called Robert-Falcon Ouellette, the Liberal candidate, "full of shit" and a "political slut" for considering other parties before choosing to run for the Liberals. Martin then targeted Ouellette's wife and accused her of being afraid to venture into the riding because of fear of theft. Martin later apologized for his comments. Electoral record References External links 1955 births Living people Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Manitoba New Democratic Party MPs Politicians from Winnipeg 21st-century Canadian politicians