Police investigate fires, broken windows at offices of Manitoba politicians

Bernadette Smith's Selkirk Avenue constituency office is shown with boarded up windows on June 20, 2025 following a vandalism.

Police are investigating recent damage at the constituency offices of two Manitoba cabinet ministers in adjacent Winnipeg neighbourhoods.

There have been four reports of fires since the start of August at the office of Bernadette Smith, the city’s fire paramedic service said Tuesday. Smith is the minister for housing, addictions and homelessness and represents the inner-city Point Douglas area.

Immediately to the north, in the St. John’s constituency, windows of the office of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine were smashed in recent days.

Both ministers said office staff were not present when the incidents occurred -- the window-smashing at Fontaine’s office occurred in the early morning hours, she said.

Both offices are in higher-crime areas of Winnipeg. There was no indication from police, who declined to discuss details of an ongoing investigation, of any connection between the events or possible political motives.

Still, Fontaine said, it is cause for concern.

“Our staff are safe. They’re working from home this week for obvious reasons,” Fontaine told reporters.

“And my priority is to make sure they are safe and that they know I support them in whatever supports they need.”

Smith, through a press secretary, declined to comment. The rear exterior of her office bore visible signs of small fires Tuesday. Portions of the brick exterior were charred black, and windows were boarded up. A neighbouring building appeared untouched.

The Winnipeg Police Service did not comment other than to say the major crimes unit is investigating.

Security at constituency offices has been an increasing concern both provincially and nationally in recent years. Unlike ministerial offices inside government buildings, constituency offices are often small storefronts that are easy to access by the public.

Police were called to a Manitoba politician’s office in 2022 after staff reported being threatened by a man who walked in. Funding for security systems at constituency offices in the province was increased.

In 2023, a constituency assistant in Nova Scotia was physically attacked in her office.

Former federal public safety minister Marco Mendicino, in 2024, called for the creation of “protective zones” around political constituency offices to shield members of Parliament and their staff from a rising tide of threatening behaviour.

“I think that politicians, public servants across the country have raised concerns, and that’s an ongoing conversation, I think, across the country,” Fontaine said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2025.