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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Mess up, fess up, dress up,' properly done
Opinion It's a phrase that is likely familiar to anyone who has worked in the corporate world and undergone media/communications training: 'Mess up, fess up, dress up.' The succinct six-word slogan is an encapsulation of what needs to be done to restore public confidence after a major mistake or transgression has taken place. If followed swiftly and directly, it's strategy that can mitigate damage, reset intentions and allow for the error/misdeed to be left behind while still ensuring its implications are neither forgotten nor ignored. During the past week, NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns), the provincial government's minister of families and minister responsible for accessibility, has delivered an absolute clinic on the application of 'mess up, fess up, dress up.' It's an example politicians of all stripes would do well to observe and, should the need ever arise, emulate. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine Here's how it breaks down: Mess up: the mistake has been made. In Fontaine's well-documented case, while speaking at a June 26 graduation ceremony for Indigenous women, the minister was caught complaining about having to share limited space onstage with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. The unfortunate and ill-considered 'hot mic' comments were captured and later broadcast by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), resulting in immediate backlash, including demands from the deaf community for government action to combat audism — discrimination against people who are deaf or hard of hearing — and calls from the Opposition Progressive Conservatives for Fontaine's removal from cabinet. Fess up: own up to the mistake. Upon the release of the recording of her comments, Fontaine issued numerous apologies, both verbal and written, directly to the affected parties and to the public at large. She also told the Free Press her office was reaching out to community organizations to listen and learn. (The process of limiting damage and repairing relationships was almost derailed by the revelation that APTN journalists had been blocked from following Fontaine on social media in the wake of the broadcast of her comments; to her credit, however, upon learning of social-media snub, the minister immediately directed her staff to reverse the decision). Dress up: declare publicly what will be done to correct the mistake and ensure no such wrongdoing occurs in the future. Last Sunday, Fontaine followed her earlier apologies with a social-media post announcing she and her staff will undergo deaf and deaf culture training 'to deepen our understanding, confront gaps and ensure our actions reflect true respect and inclusion, not just intention.' Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. The statement, delivered alongside an ASL interpreter, also included a pledge to appoint a deaf or hard of hearing 'matriarch' to join the Matriarch Circle of advisers, hire a dedicated ASL interpreter for all government departments and introduce amendments to the Accessibility for Manitobans Act to enhance protections for the deaf and hard of hearing community. 'I take full responsibility for my words, full stop,' she said in the social-media post. 'I'm human. I made a mistake, but I will do better and I will keep showing up and continue the work of building a truly inclusive Manitoba for everyone.' By promptly following the 'mess up' with what appears to be a sincere effort to fess up and dress up, Fontaine has effectively put a lid on what otherwise could have developed into a controversy with the potential to damage the NDP government. While it remains to be seen how fully the minister follows through on her promises, she has laid the groundwork for a positive outcome after an unfortunate and unnecessary misstep. And in so doing, Fontaine has provided a teachable moment for politicians everywhere.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Manitoba accessibility minister commits to taking Deaf culture training after comments about ASL interpreter
Manitoba's accessibility minister says she will be participating in Deaf culture training after she made negative comments about sharing a stage with a sign language interpreter at an event just over two weeks ago. In a video posted to her Instagram account on Sunday, Minister Nahanni Fontaine apologized for her comments, standing alongside an ASL interpreter and signing "I'm sorry." "My team and I will undergo Deaf and Deaf culture training to deepen our understanding, confront gaps and ensure our actions reflect true respect and inclusion, not just intention," Fontaine said in the video. In an APTN video, Fontaine was heard telling a person off-camera that she was "thrown off" by the ASL interpreter sharing the stage with her at a ceremony for Indigenous women graduates her team was hosting on June 26 in Winnipeg. "I couldn't see anybody on this side," Fontaine said. "And all I could see was her —" "Frantic hand movements?" the other person said. "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 in the APTN video. In Sunday's apology video, Fontaine said her statements don't reflect how she feels about Deaf and hard-of-hearing Manitobans, ASL or accessibility as a whole. In the days after the event, Fontaine posted two written apologies to her Instagram account. On Sunday, she said she has spoken with members of the Deaf community and put forward a list of changes based on those conversations. On Sunday, she said she is committed to working with ASL interpreters and making every public event accessible to the Deaf community. Fontaine said an ASL interpreter will be hired to work across government departments. A Deaf or hard of hearing matriarch will be added to the provincial Matriarch Circle advisory group, Fontaine said. She said changes will be made to the Accessibility for Manitobans Act in the spring. In a message to CBC News, Deborah Owczar, a Métis college graduate who was at the June 26 event, said she was happy to see Fontaine apologize directly to the Deaf community in a video, but says it should have happened sooner. She said she and her daughter Stephanie Jebb, who is also Deaf, a have a meeting scheduled with the minister at the end of July. Jebb said the video "is a step in the right direction." She said the Indigenous Deaf and hard of hearing community should decide who is appointed to the Matriarch Circle to ensure they are truly represented within the group. Jebb said Deaf community members should also be involved in the hiring process for a government ASL interpreter, and raised concerns that one interpreter may not be enough. "I'm human. I made a mistake, but I will do better and I will keep showing up and doing the work of building a truly inclusive Manitoba for everyone," Fontaine said in the social media video, signing "I'm sorry" in ASL.
Winnipeg Free Press
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Journalists blocked in wake of minister's ‘hot mic' comments on ASL interpreter
Winnipeg-based Aboriginal Peoples Television Network says its journalists were blocked from Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine's social media feed after they reported on controversial comments she made last month at a graduation event for Indigenous women. The accessibility minister later expressed remorse after being heard on an open microphone June 26 complaining about an American Sign Language interpreter at the event and swearing. Premier Wab Kinew has since defended Fontaine, saying she 'apologized and is putting in the work with the community, so it's with the greatest of humility that I want to ask folks in the deaf community to keep working with her.' This week, APTN reported its journalists were blocked from following the minister on social media. The Winnipeg-based network said news staff (some as far away as Halifax), digital media editors and a lineup producer weren't able to see Fontaine's posts. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine 'We follow a lot of people, her among them,' said APTN executive director of news and current affairs Cheryl McKenzie. APTN staff first noticed the issue July 4, nearly a week after the hot mic incident, she said. The network contacted Manitoba cabinet communications that day and, after repeated interview requests, received a statement from Fontaine on Wednesday acknowledging APTN journalists had been blocked from her social media. 'Immediately upon learning that journalists were blocked on my social media account, I directed staff to reverse this decision,' APTN reported Fontaine as saying. When asked if the minister ordered her staff to block APTN, Fontaine issued a statement late Friday saying she takes full responsibility for her office. 'I recognize the important role media plays in our democracy,' said Fontaine, the government house leader who also spearheaded an all-party committee to save local journalism. 'That is why my account remains open to the media and I remain available to respond to media questions.' One political observer said he can't imagine Fontaine, a proud First Nations person, purposely blocking APTN employees after dealing with the fallout from her hot mic comments. 'I doubt very much that she would be showing some vindictiveness, in light of her behaviour since that happened,' said University of Manitoba political studies Prof. Christopher Adams. 'Since this incident, Nahanni Fontaine has fallen on her sword numerous times. 'There's no doubt that it feeds into some of the images that people have of her as being a difficult, strong-minded political actor,' Adams said. 'It was a real political mistake, but she has shown great remorse.' Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan disagreed, calling it 'a major red flag.' 'This move is vindictive, it's amateur, it's petty, it's irresponsible by an NDP minister to block journalists that are doing their job,' Khan said. 'She's trying to avoid accountability and responsibility for her actions.' APTN's McKenzie said it's a 'slippery slope to a very closed society … The media has a role in democracy and if elected officials are allowed to just sidestep even the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is that really the Canada that people want?' She said the network received a 'huge' response from the deaf and hard of hearing community after reporting the initial story. 'We've also heard a lot from minister Fontaine's supporters, too, saying that we need to be talking more about her accomplishments and what she's been doing.' Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Edmonton Journal
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Manitoba's minister of accessibility apologizes for comments about ASL 'interpreter's hand movements'
Article content Manitoba's minister responsible for accessibility Nahanni Fontaine has apologized after she groused on hot mic about sharing the stage with an American Sign Language interpreter. At a graduation celebration on June 26, Fontaine spoke to her press secretary, Ryan Stelter, ahead of a media scrum. Fontaine, who is also minister of families and gender equality, complained of the interpreter being distracting during her speech, according to APTN's video of the exchange.
Vancouver Sun
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Manitoba's minister of accessibility apologizes for comments about ASL 'interpreter's hand movements'
Manitoba's minister responsible for accessibility Nahanni Fontaine has apologized after she groused on hot mic about sharing the stage with an American Sign Language interpreter. At a graduation celebration on June 26, Fontaine spoke to her press secretary, Ryan Stelter, ahead of a media scrum. Fontaine, who is also minister of families and gender equality, complained of the interpreter being distracting during her speech, according to APTN's video of the exchange . 'I was thrown off,' Fontaine told Stelter. 'It wasn't great — but because the woman — she shouldn't have been on the stage' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I couldn't see anybody on (the left) side — all I could see was her…' she added, then started to wave her hands around to Stelter, who referred to the interpreter's translations as 'frantic hand movements.' 'Yeah! I'm like, f— why did I have her on the stage,' said Fontaine, 'Jesus, I'm like, 'You need to leave.'' On Friday, Fontaine issued an apology in a written statement to media. 'I sincerely apologize to the deaf and hard of hearing community, and to all Manitobans for my comments,' Fontaine wrote. 'Yesterday, 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 own poor planning to ensure clear sight lines at the event.' She added: 'My comments did not acknowledge signing is not simply 'hand movements,' but a full and rich language used by thousands of Manitoban(s) every day.' 'As the Minister responsible for Accessibility I understand that ASL interpretation is integral to our public events, and we must continue to build understanding and respect for sign language and Manitobans who rely on it,' her statement continued. Fontaine said she has since apologized to the interpreter, Sheryl LaVallee. Deborah Owczar, who attended the honouring Indigenous women graduates, told CBC LaValle was removed from the stage following Fontaine's speech. Owczar, who is deaf, said the certificate she received at the event was tainted by the provincial minister's comments. '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 said through an interpreter. Barrier-Free Manitoba said interpreters are necessary to 'ensuring accessible public communications' under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. 'It is our hope that Minister Fontaine, as the minister responsible for accessibility and her colleagues will respond by reinforcing the Act's mandate—ensuring accessible public communications through robust education and compliance,' the non-profit organization wrote in an email to CTV . 'Leadership means setting the tone from the top, and we trust the government will act decisively to uphold the dignity and inclusion rights of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.' Fontaine has said her team always includes ASL interpreters and that they are an important part of her speaking events. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
