‘Common ground': CTV Atlantic commentator calls for empathy for Alberta
CTV News Atlantic commentator Steve Murphy speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about perceptions of Alberta on a national level.
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CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
Accessibility minister's comments about ASL interpreter a 'knife right in the back' for deaf graduate
Social Sharing A woman who was excited to celebrate with her family at a graduation event for Indigenous women on Thursday says it's hard to look at her college certificate after the experience was tainted by comments Manitoba's accessibility minister made about sharing the stage with a sign-language interpreter. Deborah Owczar, who is deaf, said the ASL interpreter was removed from the stage after Minister Nahanni Fontaine's speech, depriving her and her daughter access to participation during the first annual Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag Celebration of Indigenous Women Graduates held in downtown Winnipeg on Thursday. She said she was looking forward to getting dressed up with her daughter and celebrating with other Indigenous high school, college and university grads. Owczar had just earned a child and youth care certificate through a partnership between Ndinawe and Red River College Polytechnic. "I feel like my certificate is completely ruined. I got it from this event, now when I look at it, it's associated with these negative memories, not with my accomplishment. I look at my certificate and I think about what was said," Owczar told CBC News through an ASL interpreter on Sunday. "I felt like my accomplishment was not as worthy as the others," she said. In a video taken by APTN news, Fontaine is seen telling a person off camera that she was "thrown off" by the interpreter sharing the stage with her, saying the interpreter shouldn't have been on the stage because she was blocking Fontaine's view of the audience. Nahanni Fontaine complains about ASL interpreter sharing her stage 5 hours ago Duration 0:32 In video captured by APTN, Manitoba's minister responsible for accessibility asks "why the F are you on the stage?" in reference to the sign language interpreter who had shared the stage with her while she delivered a speech to Indigenous graduates. The other person referred to the interpreter's translation as "frantic hand movements." "Yeah, I'm like, 'F--k, why did I have her on the stage?' Jesus! I'm like, 'you need to leave,'" the minister is heard saying into a hot mic in the APTN video. On Friday, Fontaine issued an apology, saying her comments were an expression of frustration over her "poor planning ensuring clear sight lines for all graduates." "I also sincerely apologize to the Deaf community and to all Manitobans for my comments," Fontaine said, adding she apologized directly to the interpreter who shared the stage with her. Owczar said when she saw the video of Fontaine's comments the day after the event, it "was just like a knife right in the back, adding salt to the wound," and the apology doesn't do enough to help heal that wound. "Any sense of inspiration or joy that I had from this event was completely lost," she said. Owczar's daughter Stephanie Jebb, who is also deaf, said she was shocked by the minister's comments, adding Fontaine's facial expressions throughout the video communicated an "obvious lack of respect." "She used such harsh, foul language. It was extreme," Jebb said. "It really just tainted the entire experience." "When you disrespect the interpreter, you disrespect the Deaf community," Owczar said. Owczar said she saw Fontaine go up to the interpreter after her speech, pointing to an area off of the stage. The interpreter was not on stage for the remaining speeches, Owczar said. Having an interpreter on stage next to the speaker helps make the event fully accessible for members of the Deaf community, Owczar and Jebb said. Owczar said it's important to see both at the same time because the interpreter provides access to the language while the speaker offers emotion and context, such as hand gestures and facial expressions, through their presentation. "That's the way that I can really have a full understanding of what's going on … to be able to see both at the same time, not one or the other," she said. According to the Canadian Hearing Society, interpreters should sit or stand next to the speaker and across from the person accessing ASL interpretation. This allows the individual to clearly see both the interpreter and the speaker. Jebb said the interpreter was moved in front of their table, forcing them to choose whether to understand the speech or watch the speaker on stage. "You can't see what's happening on stage and also understand what's being said," she said. "This is our culture and our language. Having the interpreter there next to the speaker so we can see both, that's the way that we can fully participate in what's happening," Owczar said. Both Jebb and Owczar said they are sadly used to being denied access to ASL interpreters at events. They said interpreters — if they are provided at all — are often asked to move out of the way, which limits an ASL speaker's access. Still, it was shocking to see the same conduct from Fontaine on Thursday. "She's the minister of accessibility and yet my right to access was denied," Owczar said, adding that Fontaine's comments make her question how the minister feels about accessibility behind closed doors. However, Owczar said she hopes Fontaine learns from her mistakes and commits to educating herself further, whether she keeps the accessibility role or not. "I would love to have her as part of a healing circle with the Deaf community …" Owczar said. "I would love to have her involved in the Deaf community and learning more about us and our language." "The minister of accessibility needs to know these things," Jebb said. Before Thursday's event, the pair were already excited to attend next year's graduation ceremony for Indigenous women, where Jebb had planned to celebrate earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Winnipeg in 2026. Now they're not sure if they'll go back. "It's hard to imagine watching her on stage again," Owczar said. CBC News reached out to the province for comment on Sunday. However, Fontaine posted a second apology to her Instagram account late Sunday afternoon. "Over the past few days, I've heard clearly from Deaf Manitobans and community members of the harm my comments caused. Once again, I remain deeply sorry," she wrote, adding she will ensure all events are accessible to everyone.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Canadian Prime Minister Carney says trade talks with US resume after Canada rescinded tech tax
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said late Sunday trade talks with U.S. have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to tax U.S. technology firms. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called 'a direct and blatant attack on our country.' The Canadian government says 'in anticipation' of a trade deal 'Canada would rescind' the Digital Serves Tax. The tax was set to go into effect Monday. Carney's office said Carney and Trump have agreed to resume negotiations. 'Today's announcement will support a resumption of negotiations toward the July 21, 2025, timeline set out at this month's G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis,' Carney said in a statement. Carney visited Trump in May at the White House, where he was polite but firm. Trump traveled to Canada for the G7 summit in Alberta, where Carney said that Canada and the U.S. had set a 30-day deadline for trade talks. Trump, in a post on his social media network last Friday, said Canada had informed the U.S. that it was sticking to its plan to impose the digital services tax, which applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The digital services tax was due to hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users. It would have applied retroactively, leaving U.S. companies with a $2 billion U.S. bill due at the end of the month. Trump's announcement Friday was the latest swerve in the trade war he's launched since taking office for a second term in January. Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, starting with the U.S. president poking at the nation's northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Federal government rescinds digital services tax to advance trade talks with U.S.
The Canadian government says it's decided to rescind a digital services tax that led U.S. President Donald Trump to break off negotiations aimed at ending a damaging trade war between the United States and Canada. In a late Sunday announcement, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government said talks with the Trump administration would resume now that Canada has repealed the levy that applied to U.S. tech giants such as Amazon, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Uber and Airbnb. Mr. Trump on Friday had announced the United States was 'terminating all discussions on trade with Canada' in response to the digital sales tax. First payments under the levy were due June 30 and the initial bill faced by big U.S. companies was expected to exceed US$2-billion. 'Prime Minister Carney and President Trump have agreed that parties will resume negotiations with a view towards agreeing on a deal by July 21, 2025,' the Canadian government said in a statement Sunday. The digital sales tax would have imposed a 3-per-cent levy on Canadian revenue from digital services exceeding $20-million that is earned by companies with at least $1.1-billion in global revenue. This includes revenue from search engines, social-media platforms and online marketplaces. With files from Canadian Press
