Nova Scotian Progressive Conservative Leader Rodney MacDonald, a well-known fiddler who became premier earlier this year, is calling a provincial election ad placed by the NDP an assault on Celtic culture.

Rodney MacDonald, above, criticized an ad that made fun of his background as a fiddler, but NDP Leader Darrell Dexter defended the ad as 'a little cheeky.' (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

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The 30-second television ad, which attacks the Tory government's record on three issues, includes fiddle music.

It ends with the line, "Rodney MacDonald and the Conservatives? The jig is up."

'If you're going to attack one particular culture, does that mean they're going to attack other cultures as well?'-Nova Scotia Tory Leader Rodney MacDonald

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter calls the ad "slightly irreverent" and "a little cheeky," and says it's a good way to get a point across.

But MacDonald said the ad is inappropriate.

"If you're going to attack one particular culture, does that mean they're going to attack other cultures as well?" he told CBC News on Wednesday.

"I think it's an inappropriate thing to do, but Nova Scotians will be the judge and I have no doubt that many people will see that ad and they'll want to send a very strong message to the NDP."

MacDonald said he plans to stay positive during this campaign leading up to the June 13 election, and not use negative ads to win votes.

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