Journalists blocked in wake of minister’s ‘hot mic’ comments on ASL interpreter

Winnipeg-based Aboriginal Peoples Television Network says its journalists were blocked from Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine’s social media feed after they reported on controversial comments she made last month at a graduation event for Indigenous women.

The accessibility minister later expressed remorse after being heard on an open microphone June 26 complaining about an American Sign Language interpreter at the event and swearing. Premier Wab Kinew has since defended Fontaine, saying she “apologized and is putting in the work with the community, so it’s with the greatest of humility that I want to ask folks in the deaf community to keep working with her.”

This week, APTN reported its journalists were blocked from following the minister on social media. The Winnipeg-based network said news staff (some as far away as Halifax), digital media editors and a lineup producer weren’t able to see Fontaine’s posts.

“We follow a lot of people, her among them,” said APTN executive director of news and current affairs Cheryl McKenzie.

APTN staff first noticed the issue July 4, nearly a week after the hot mic incident, she said.

The network contacted Manitoba cabinet communications that day and, after repeated interview requests, received a statement from Fontaine on Wednesday acknowledging APTN journalists had been blocked from her social media.

“Immediately upon learning that journalists were blocked on my social media account, I directed staff to reverse this decision,” APTN reported Fontaine as saying.

When asked if the minister ordered her staff to block APTN, Fontaine issued a statement late Friday saying she takes full responsibility for her office.

“I recognize the important role media plays in our democracy,” said Fontaine, the government house leader who also spearheaded an all-party committee to save local journalism. “That is why my account remains open to the media and I remain available to respond to media questions.”

One political observer said he can’t imagine Fontaine, a proud First Nations person, purposely blocking APTN employees after dealing with the fallout from her hot mic comments.

“I doubt very much that she would be showing some vindictiveness, in light of her behaviour since that happened,” said University of Manitoba political studies Prof. Christopher Adams. “Since this incident, Nahanni Fontaine has fallen on her sword numerous times.

“There’s no doubt that it feeds into some of the images that people have of her as being a difficult, strong-minded political actor,” Adams said. “It was a real political mistake, but she has shown great remorse.”

Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan disagreed, calling it “a major red flag.”

“This move is vindictive, it’s amateur, it’s petty, it’s irresponsible by an NDP minister to block journalists that are doing their job,” Khan said. “She’s trying to avoid accountability and responsibility for her actions.”

APTN’s McKenzie said it’s a “slippery slope to a very closed society … The media has a role in democracy and if elected officials are allowed to just sidestep even the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is that really the Canada that people want?”

She said the network received a “huge” response from the deaf and hard of hearing community after reporting the initial story. “We’ve also heard a lot from minister Fontaine’s supporters, too, saying that we need to be talking more about her accomplishments and what she’s been doing.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca