Warning: this article contains strong language Manitoba’s Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, who’s responsible for accessibility in the province, was caught on camera complaining about sharing the stage with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. The ‘hot mic’ moment was captured by APTN National News on Thursday after Fontaine had delivered a speech at a grad ceremony. Fontaine had been accompanied on stage by an ASL interpreter as she delivered the speech. Following the speech, Fontaine was preparing to speak with the media. While in front of the camera, she was seen and heard speaking with her aide about the speech. “I was thrown off—it wasn’t great—but, because the woman, she shouldn’t have been on the stage. I couldn’t see anybody on the side,” Fontaine is heard saying. “All I could see was her.” Fontaine then begins waving her hands, to which her aide responded describing the ASL interpreter’s signing as ‘frantic hand movements.’ “Yeah. So, I’m like f**k, why did I have her on stage?” Fontaine said in response. “I’m like, ‘Jesus.’ I’m like, ‘You need to leave.’” CTV News reached out to Fontaine and was given a written statement. Fontaine said the exchange was a private debrief with her staff. “I was reflecting on my public speaking performance and remarked I had been distracted by the interpreter’s hand movements,” the statement reads in part “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 goes on to write, “I also sincerely apologize to the Deaf community and to all Manitobans for my comments.” Fontaine said she spoke directly with the interpreter to offer a personal apology. She went on to say, as minister responsible for accessibility, her team always includes ASL interpreters, which she described as an integral part of her public events. Barrier-Free Manitoba told CTV News it is aware of Fontaine’s comments. “Under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, all Manitobans are entitled to accessible communication including the provision of ASL translation during public events,” the organization said in an email to CTV News. “We welcome the opportunity this incident presents for renewed leadership: 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. 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 Manitoba Deaf Association had no comment on the situation, but confirmed its president would be meeting with Fontaine.
