Manitoba PCs continue call for Fontaine’s resignation after ‘shameful’ comments about sign-language interpreter

The Opposition in Manitoba is calling for the resignation of the province’s minister responsible for accessibility after comments she made about a sign-language interpreter.

The Manitoba Progressive Conservative caucus wants Nahanni Fontaine to step down from her role as cabinet minister responsible for accessibility.

It comes days after Fontaine was caught on camera using a swear word when telling a staff member that she was thrown off by the interpreter’s presence during a celebration for Indigenous graduates Thursday in Winnipeg.

“I was thrown off … because the woman … shouldn’t have been on the stage,” Fontaine is heard telling an off-screen staff member.

The staff member asked whether the interpreter’s “frantic hand movements” were distracting, and Fontaine replied, “yeah.”

“I’m like (expletive), why did I have her on the stage?” Fontaine says.

“I’m like ‘you need to leave.'”

Those comments were captured and reported on by APTN news agency, which censored Fontaine’s swear word.

“I was appalled; it was shameful,” said Jodie Byram, the PC critic for families and accessibility.

“I do feel like she needs to resign. She is to advocate for individuals of the deaf community… and she totally, it was quite obvious and apparent, just absolutely disrespected those in the deaf community.”

Fontaine has since issued a two-part apology.

“I was expressing frustration on my poor planning ensuring clear sight lines for all graduates,” her statement reads in part.

“I also sincerely apologize to the deaf community and to all Manitobans for my comments.

“My comments did not acknowledge signing is not simply ‘hand movements,’ but a full and rich language used by thousands of Manitobans every day.”

On Sunday, Fontaine extended her statement, adding that she’s “heard clearly from deaf Manitobans and community members of the harm my comments caused.”

She also said she’s committed to learning from the incident.

Reaction was mixed online, with some thanking Fontaine for the apology. Others asked what concrete steps she would take to address bias, and some echoed the PCs’ call for her resignation.

“They are starting to see the minister’s true colours come through, and we see that on a regular basis when we’re sitting,” Byram said.

CityNews reached out to the premier and cabinet minister’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back.

–With files from The Canadian Press