Latest news with #NahanniFontaine


CTV News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Cabinet minister moving forward following remarks
Winnipeg Watch Following a controversial 'hot mic' comment about an ASL interpreter, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine says she is working to turn the page.


Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Improving accessibility, ‘doing better' the focus, Fontaine says in wake of insensitive remarks caught on microphone
Manitoba's minister responsible for accessibility said Wednesday she's focusing on improving accessibility standards after remarks she made about a sign-language interpreter sparked criticism last month. Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine came under fire after her complaints about the placement of an American Sign Language interpreter at a graduation ceremony she was speaking at were caught on a 'hot mic' by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network June 26. Fontaine has apologized multiple times and committed to staff training. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Minister Nahanni Fontaine announces the 2025-26 Manitoba Accessibility Fund recipients at Sport Manitoba Wednesday. 'When I have these missteps or these mistakes or these moments, I always try to find the teaching and the lessons in it, and then how to move forward in a better way — how to do better,' Fontaine told reporters at a news conference Wednesday morning, announcing the recipients of this year's Manitoba Accessibility Fund. Fontaine, who was accompanied by a sign-language interpreter, said the province is working on hiring two additional ASL specialists. One will be present at any public event involving her department, she said. In the weeks since the incident, a deaf woman has also joined the Matriarch Circle, an advisory body of Indigenous women that consult with the provincial government, she said. The graduation-ceremony incident led to calls from the Opposition Progressive Conservatives to have Fontaine relieved of her accessibility responsibilities. Premier Wab Kinew has stood by her. Earlier this month, Fontaine said amendments to the Accessibility for Manitobans Act would be coming. She said Wednesday that the changes will include financial penalties as a 'last resort' for organizations refusing to implement accessibility standards. 'There are, in those rare, rare instances, (where) people are resistant to compliance, so the community has been asking for many years that there's some financial teeth behind them,' she said. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine speaks to the media, with an ASL translator, after announcing the 2025-26 Manitoba Accessibility Fund recipients at Sport Manitoba. In the wake of Fontaine's comments last month, reporters and others at APTN, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, found themselves blocked from Fontaine's social media. APTN was the first to report the comments. Fontaine refused to say who blocked the reporters, but said the move was reversed. 'I take full responsibility for my office and those folks are no longer blocked,' she said. Manitoba's Accessibility Fund grant program will distribute $820,000 across 33 organizations this year. Among them is Sport Manitoba — the site of Wednesday's announcement — which will receive $5,500 to create and deliver anti-ableism, disability awareness and accessible recreation training. 'Manitoba is privileged to have such a wide range of organizations whose purpose is to serve those within our accessible community,' said facility services manager Sarah Shotton. 'We very much look forward to working with some of these organizations to raise awareness about the vital role that we all play in supporting accessible sport experiences throughout Manitoba.' This year's Manitoba Accessibility Award, which recognizes organizations committed to support for people with disabilities, was presented to the Arts AccessAbility Network of Manitoba. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Arts AccessAbility Network of Manitoba executive director Jenel Shaw said the organization sees accessibility as 'the very foundation of artistic freedom.' Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. The organization has audited venues and theatres to remove barriers and it maintains an online database. Executive director Jenel Shaw said the organization sees accessibility as 'the very foundation of artistic freedom.' 'Disability for us is not a deficit, it's a perspective, a source of insight, beauty and innovation,' she said. 'When we talk about accessibility, we're not just talking about ramps, ASL or print labels, though all of those matter deeply. We're talking about cultural change, about building art spaces where disabled and deaf artists are not only included, but centred.' Malak AbasReporter Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak. Every piece of reporting Malak 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.


CTV News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Cabinet minister who criticized interpreter says she is focused on doing better
Nahanni Fontaine is photographed at the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods< WINNIPEG — A Manitoba cabinet minister who criticized a sign language interpreter says she is focused on doing better and improving services for people with disabilities. Nahanni Fontaine, the minister responsible for services for people with disabilities, has repeatedly apologized for remarks she made last month while hosting a celebration for Indigenous women graduates. While preparing to speak to reporters after, Fontaine told one of her staff that she was thrown off by a sign language interpreter's presence and that the woman should not have been on stage. Fontaine held a news conference today to announce $820,000 in grants this year under an annual program that funds groups who help reduce barriers for people with disabilities. Fontaine says work is underway to better enforce accessibility standards, which could mean fines for businesses who fail to have a wheelchair ramp where required by law, for example. She also says her department will have sign language interpreters at all public events and the government will hire two dedicated interpreters to support all departments. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025 Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press


CBC
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Cabinet minister who criticized interpreter says she is focused on doing better
A Manitoba cabinet minister who criticized a sign language interpreter says she is focused on doing better and improving services for people with disabilities. Nahanni Fontaine, the minister responsible for services for people with disabilities, has repeatedly apologized for the remarks she made last month, while hosting a celebration for Indigenous women graduates. While preparing to speak to reporters after, Fontaine told one of her staff that she was thrown off by a sign language interpreter's presence and that the woman should not have been on stage. Fontaine held a news conference today to announce $825,000 in grants this year under an annual program that funds groups who help reduce barriers for people with disabilities. Fontaine says work is underway to better enforce accessibility standards, which could mean fines for businesses who fail to have a wheelchair ramp where required by law, for example. She also says her department will have sign language interpreters at all public events and the government will hire two dedicated interpreters to support all departments.


Global News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Global News
Cabinet minister who criticized interpreter says she's focused on doing better
A Manitoba cabinet minister who criticized a sign language interpreter says she is focused on doing better and improving services for people with disabilities. Nahanni Fontaine, the minister responsible for services for people with disabilities, has repeatedly apologized for remarks she made last month while hosting a celebration for Indigenous women graduates. While preparing to speak to reporters after, Fontaine told one of her staff that she was thrown off by a sign language interpreter's presence and that the woman should not have been on stage. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Fontaine held a news conference today to announce $825,000 in grants this year under an annual program that funds groups who help reduce barriers for people with disabilities. Fontaine says work is underway to better enforce accessibility standards, which could mean fines for businesses who fail to have a wheelchair ramp where required by law, for example. Story continues below advertisement She also says her department will have sign language interpreters at all public events and the government will hire two dedicated interpreters to support all departments.