Latest news with #ProgressiveConservatives
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Manitoba's accessibility minister apologizes for comments about sign language interpreter
Manitoba's accessibility minister is apologizing to the Deaf community for comments she made about a sign language interpreter that were caught on a hot mic. Minister Nahanni Fontaine made the comments while preparing to speak to reporters following a speech during a graduation event she hosted for Indigenous women Thursday. A sign language interpreter was with her on stage during the speech. Video taken by APTN shows Fontaine discussing her performance with a person off-camera, apparently unaware the camera was recording. The recording shows the minister saying she was "thrown off" because of the interpreter. "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. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives called on Fontaine, the NDP member for St. Johns, to apologize and immediately resign from her role as accessibility minister, saying in social media posts Friday it's a responsibility "she clearly does not respect." Fontaine said in a statement she was expressing frustration about "her poor planning ensuring clear sight lines on all graduates" during a private debrief with staff. "My comments did not acknowledge signing is not simply 'hand movements,' but a full and rich language used by thousands of Manitobans every day," she said in the statement. The minister said she spoke with the sign language interpreter to offer her a personal apology, and to thank her for her work. "I also sincerely apologize to the Deaf community and to all Manitobans for my comments," Fontaine said. Barrier-Free Manitoba said in a statement it's aware of the recording, pointing out all Manitobans are entitled to accessible communication, including ASL translation, during public events under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. The statement said the organization hopes Fontaine and her colleagues "will respond by reinforcing the act's mandate — ensuring accessible public communications through robust education and compliance." "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, the statement said.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Manitoba cabinet minister apologizes for complaints about sign-language interpreter
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba cabinet minister responsible for services for people with disabilities is apologizing for comments she made about a sign-language interpreter. Nahanni Fontaine hosted a celebration for Indigenous women graduates Thursday in Winnipeg, and had a sign-language interpreter on stage with her during her speech. Afterward, while preparing to speak to reporters, Fontaine told one of her staff that she was thrown off by the woman's presence and that the woman should not have been on stage. The comments were captured and reported on by First Nations TV channel APTN. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives called for Fontaine to apologize and said she should be removed as minister responsible for accessibility. Fontaine has issued a statement in which she apologizes and says she was worried about not being able to see everyone in the room. 'I was expressing frustration on my poor planning (on) ensuring clear sight lines for all graduates,' Fontaine's statement reads. 'My comments did not acknowledge signing is not simply 'hand movements', but a full and rich language used by thousands of Manitobans every day.' Fontaine said she has apologized directly to the interpreter and offered an apology to the deaf community as a whole. In the video captured by APTN, Fontaine reportedly used an expletive as she complained about the interpreter's presence. 'I was thrown off ... because the woman ... shouldn't have been on the stage,' Fontaine is heard telling an off-screen staff member. The staff member asked whether the interpreter's 'frantic hand movements' were distracting, and Fontaine replied, 'yeah.' 'I'm like ... why did I have her on the stage?' Fontaine said in the video, with a middle word bleeped out. 'I'm like 'you need to leave.'' The Tory caucus, in a social media post, says Fontaine cannot continue in her current ministerial role. 'This is unbecoming of an elected official and unacceptable from a minister responsible for accessibility,' the post says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba cabinet minister apologizes for complaints about sign-language interpreter
WINNIPEG – The Manitoba cabinet minister responsible for services for people with disabilities is apologizing for comments she made about a sign-language interpreter. Nahanni Fontaine hosted a celebration for Indigenous women graduates Thursday in Winnipeg, and had a sign-language interpreter on stage with her during her speech. Afterward, while preparing to speak to reporters, Fontaine told one of her staff that she was thrown off by the woman's presence and that the woman should not have been on stage. The comments were captured and reported on by First Nations TV channel APTN. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives called for Fontaine to apologize and said she should be removed as minister responsible for accessibility. Fontaine has issued a statement in which she apologizes and says she was worried about not being able to see everyone in the room. 'I was expressing frustration on my poor planning (on) ensuring clear sight lines for all graduates,' Fontaine's statement reads. 'My comments did not acknowledge signing is not simply 'hand movements', but a full and rich language used by thousands of Manitobans every day.' Fontaine said she has apologized directly to the interpreter and offered an apology to the deaf community as a whole. In the video captured by APTN, Fontaine reportedly used an expletive as she complained about the interpreter's presence. 'I was thrown off … because the woman … shouldn't have been on the stage,' Fontaine is heard telling an off-screen staff member. The staff member asked whether the interpreter's 'frantic hand movements' were distracting, and Fontaine replied, 'yeah.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. 'I'm like … why did I have her on the stage?' Fontaine said in the video, with a middle word bleeped out. 'I'm like 'you need to leave.'' The Tory caucus, in a social media post, says Fontaine cannot continue in her current ministerial role. 'This is unbecoming of an elected official and unacceptable from a minister responsible for accessibility,' the post says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Ontario expanding publicly funded private surgical and diagnostic centres
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during a news conference in Mississauga, Ont., on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Ontario is expanding its suite of publicly funded private community surgical and diagnostic centres. Premier Doug Ford says the province is investing $155 million over the next two years to create 57 new centres for MRI and CT scans and gastrointestinal endoscopy services. Ford says the new clinics will help ease the burden on hospitals and reduce wait times. The province says it will add 35 new centres for MRI and CT scans that it says will serve more than 800,000 patients. And it will add 22 centres to deliver endoscopy services. Ford's Progressive Conservative government first introduced sweeping changes to the delivery of health care in 2023 in response to a massive surgical and diagnostic test backlog. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Ontario expanding publicly funded private surgical and diagnostic centres
Ontario is expanding its suite of publicly funded private community surgical and diagnostic centres. Premier Doug Ford says the province is investing $155 million over the next two years to create 57 new centres for MRI and CT scans and gastrointestinal endoscopy services. Ford says the new clinics will help ease the burden on hospitals and reduce wait times. The province says it will add 35 new centres for MRI and CT scans that it says will serve more than 800,000 patients. It will also add 22 centres to deliver endoscopy services. Ford's Progressive Conservative government first introduced sweeping changes to the delivery of health care in 2023 in response to a massive surgical and diagnostic test backlog.
