Ms. Fontaine has been told by some deaf Manitobans and community groups that they have lost trust in her ability to represent them.Ruth Bonneville/The Canadian Press
Manitoba’s Accessibility Minister is apologizing after she was heard on video using “demeaning” language while questioning why a sign-language interpreter had been placed on the stage with her at a recent event.
Nahanni Fontaine was preparing to speak with reporters during a gala celebrating Indigenous graduates last week when she made the off-the-cuff comments, voicing her frustrations using an expletive with a member of her staff, which was captured on a hot mic.
Over this past week, Ms. Fontaine, who is also Families Minister in Premier Wab Kinew’s government, has been told by many deaf Manitobans and community groups that they have lost trust in her ability to represent them, and that she should step down from her position as Accessibility Minister.
Ms. Fontaine declined interview requests from The Globe and Mail, writing in a statement that she is sincerely apologetic.
“During a private debrief with my staff, I was reflecting on my public speaking performance and remarked I had been distracted by the interpreter’s hand movements. I was expressing frustration on my poor planning,” she said.
“My comments were unacceptable.”
Mr. Kinew said it has been tough to see people being hurt by Ms. Fontaine’s comments. But he emphasized that he remains in the minister’s corner.
“Our minister has apologized and is putting in the work with the community,” the Premier told reporters at an unrelated event Friday. “It’s with the greatest of humility that I want to ask folks in the deaf community to keep working with her.”
At the gala, the first annual Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag Celebration of Indigenous Women Graduates, Ms. Fontaine agreed with her staffer, Ryan Stelter, when he compared American Sign Language (ASL) to “frantic hand movements.”
Using a four-letter profanity to express exasperation about not having a clear sightline of the audience because of the interpreter, Ms. Fontaine was captured on video saying: “Why did I have her on the stage? Like, Jesus, I’m like, you need to leave.”
The interpreter was removed from the stage for other speeches.
Deborah Owczar, who is Métis, was one of the women being honoured, having received a certificate in child and youth care from Red River College Polytechnic. She attended with her daughter, Stephanie Jebb, and had repeatedly requested ASL interpretation for the event.
Ms. Owczar and Ms. Jebb, both of whom are deaf, told The Globe that watching Ms. Fontaine kick out the interpreter was humiliating and disrespectful.
“My right to communication access was taken away. I no longer felt like I belonged in that room,” Ms. Owczar said.
“She has lost my trust – and the trust of many.”
The mother and daughter said they felt exhausted and demoralized as they attempted to follow the proceedings.
“We were made to feel invisible. It turned a moment of empowerment into one of erasure,” Ms. Jebb said. “Her reaction made it clear that she lacks both experience and cultural humility.”
Ms. Owczar said Alex Krosney, the chief of staff for Ms. Fontaine, sent an apology note to her this week, shortly after her family had spoken with The Globe and other media outlets. She said it felt insincere and “read more like a generic PR response than a genuine effort to reach out or make amends.”
She worries the incident was just one harmful stereotype about deaf people caught on camera. “It seems this kind of behaviour may be typical for her,” she added. “It also makes you wonder what she says behind closed doors.”
Jo-anne Jones, president of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s Manitoba chapter, agreed, suggesting it illustrates a broader pattern.
“It’s just so very demeaning, unbelievably so. I’m no longer sure she’s the right minister for this job,” Ms. Jones said in an interview.
“This is a person who should be very comfortable with interpreters. Saying you’re distracted by ASL is the equivalent of saying you’re distracted by a person speaking in English or Cree next to you, helping others understand your very words.”
Shawna Joynt, president of the Manitoba Deaf Association, said she held a meeting with Ms. Fontaine on Wednesday, where the minister committed to “learn and make improvements from this huge misstep.”
Using ASL in a transcribed video statement to The Globe, Ms. Joynt said the association will “continue to be by her side” in an advisory capacity.
“We know this will not sit well with everyone,” she said.