Manitoba Accessibility Minister Nahanni Fontaine is facing mounting questions about her qualifications to serve in her role following controversial remarks about a sign language interpreter — and new concerns from a whistleblower inside the provincial public service who says her actions reflect deeper systemic issues.
Fontaine came under fire in late June after she was caught on a hot microphone criticizing the presence of an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter at a graduation ceremony she hosted for Indigenous women. The comments, made to a staffer and recorded by APTN News, included profanity and frustration that the interpreter was on stage with her, blocking her view of the audience.
Despite backlash from members of Manitoba’s Deaf community, Premier Wab Kinew has confirmed that Fontaine will remain in her position, stating she has apologized and is working to rebuild trust.
But a public servant who spoke to the Winnipeg Sun under condition of anonymity says the situation has exposed broader concerns about Fontaine’s fitness to lead in accessibility, as well as questionable hiring practices within the provincial government.
“The concern is not only her insulting treatment of a person with a disability who was doing her job, but also that she lacks the emotional and social maturity required for a role focused on inclusion,” the whistleblower said. “This position demands empathy, self-awareness, and respect for a wide range of cultural and human differences — not...
Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the “faith-friendly” right-wing cable network of defaming Dominion Voting Systems. Newsmax falsely claimed Dominion helped ri...