Manitoba's accessibility minister apologizes for comments about sign language interpreter

Arturo Chang · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 27, 2025 6:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

Manitoba's accessibility curate is apologizing to the Deaf assemblage for comments she made astir a sign connection interpreter that were caught connected a blistery mic.

Minister Nahanni Fontaine made the comments portion preparing to talk to reporters pursuing a code during a graduation lawsuit she hosted for Indigenous women Thursday. A motion connection interpreter was with her connected signifier during the speech.

Video taken by APTN shows Fontaine discussing her show with a idiosyncratic off-camera, seemingly unaware the camera was recording. The signaling shows the curate saying she was "thrown off" due to the fact that of the interpreter.

"I couldn't spot anybody connected this side," Fontaine said. "And each I could spot was her —"

"Frantic manus movements?" the different person said.

"Yeah, I'm like, 'F--k, wherefore did I person her connected the stage?' Jesus! I'm like, 'you request to leave,'" the curate is heard saying successful the APTN video.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives called connected Fontaine, the NDP subordinate for St. Johns, to apologize and immediately resign from her relation arsenic accessibility minister, saying successful societal media posts Friday it's a work "she intelligibly does not respect."

Fontaine said successful a connection she was expressing vexation astir "her mediocre readying ensuring wide show lines connected each graduates" during a backstage debrief with staff.

"My comments did not admit signing is not simply 'hand movements,' but a afloat and affluent connection utilized by thousands of Manitobans each day," she said successful the statement.

The curate said she spoke with the motion connection interpreter to connection her a idiosyncratic apology, and to convey her for her work.

"I also sincerely apologize to the Deaf assemblage and to each Manitobans for my comments," Fontaine said.

Barrier-Free Manitoba said successful a connection it's alert of the recording, pointing retired each Manitobans are entitled to accessible communication, including ASL translation, during nationalist events nether the Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

The connection said the enactment hopes Fontaine and her colleagues "will respond by reinforcing the act's mandate — ensuring accessible nationalist communications done robust acquisition and compliance."

"Leadership means mounting the code from the top, and we spot the authorities volition enactment decisively to uphold the dignity and inclusion rights" of the Deaf and hard of proceeding communities, the connection said.