COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Addressing hurtful remarks

I would like to start by taking a moment to address hurtful comments made recently pertaining to accessibility and deaf Manitobans.

At an Indigenous graduation ceremony last month, before speaking to media, Accessibility Minister Nahanni Fontaine was caught on a ‘hot mic’ making hurtful remarks regarding the ASL interpreter who shared the stage with her. Fontaine complained about how the interpreter distracted her with her “frantic hand movements” (meaning, sign language).

These comments were unprofessional, rude, insensitive, and just downright ableist. I am appalled that any elected official, let alone the minister responsible for accessibility, would speak this way about accessibility accommodations. I am also shocked that the Premier has chosen to support Fontaine and allow her to keep her position as accessibility minister, telling the deaf and hard of hearing community to “keep working with her” instead. And in the midst of all this, it was revealed that Fontaine had blocked nearly all staff at APTN News from across Canada on social media for the simple crime of reporting this story.

On a separate topic, I want to address all of your concerns regarding the need for more childcare spaces and the construction of new schools. It is incredibly important that we have infrastructure that keeps up with and is able to support our growing communities, especially in regard to school and childcare capacity. However, that is not what we currently have.

Many of our communities do not have any open daycare spots, or they are experiencing delays in the construction of new facilities—such as in the case of a new vocational high school in the community of Ste. Anne. I have tirelessly advocated for more funding, the expansion of daycares, and the building of new educational centres in areas where they are needed most, and I will continue to do so.

With the support of new PC Leader Obby Khan, I will keep advocating for your concerns and urging the NDP for a clear plan that supports growth, opportunities, and community development in Dawson Trail.

For more updates and information, visit my website at boblagasse.com. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my constituency office at ca.lagasse@outlook.com or 204-807-4663.