Improving accessibility, ‘doing better’ the focus, Fontaine says in wake of insensitive remarks caught on microphone

Manitoba’s minister responsible for accessibility said Wednesday she’s focusing on improving accessibility standards after remarks she made about a sign-language interpreter sparked criticism last month.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine came under fire after her complaints about the placement of an American Sign Language interpreter at a graduation ceremony she was speaking at were caught on a “hot mic” by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network June 26.

Fontaine has apologized multiple times and committed to staff training.

“When I have these missteps or these mistakes or these moments, I always try to find the teaching and the lessons in it, and then how to move forward in a better way — how to do better,” Fontaine told reporters at a news conference Wednesday morning, announcing the recipients of this year’s Manitoba Accessibility Fund.

Fontaine, who was accompanied by a sign-language interpreter, said the province is working on hiring two additional ASL specialists.

One will be present at any public event involving her department, she said.

In the weeks since the incident, a deaf woman has also joined the Matriarch Circle, an advisory body of Indigenous women that consult with the provincial government, she said.

The graduation-ceremony incident led to calls from the Opposition Progressive Conservatives to have Fontaine relieved of her accessibility responsibilities.

Premier Wab Kinew has stood by her.

Earlier this month, Fontaine said amendments to the Accessibility for Manitobans Act would be coming. She said Wednesday that the changes will include financial penalties as a “last resort” for organizations refusing to implement accessibility standards.

“There are, in those rare, rare instances, (where) people are resistant to compliance, so the community has been asking for many years that there’s some financial teeth behind them,” she said.

In the wake of Fontaine’s comments last month, reporters and others at APTN, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, found themselves blocked from Fontaine’s social media. APTN was the first to report the comments.

Fontaine refused to say who blocked the reporters, but said the move was reversed.

“I take full responsibility for my office and those folks are no longer blocked,” she said.

Manitoba’s Accessibility Fund grant program will distribute $825,000 across 34 organizations this year.

Among them is Sport Manitoba — the site of Wednesday’s announcement — which will receive $5,500 to create and deliver anti-ableism, disability awareness and accessible recreation training.

“Manitoba is privileged to have such a wide range of organizations whose purpose is to serve those within our accessible community,” said facility services manager Sarah Shotton.

“We very much look forward to working with some of these organizations to raise awareness about the vital role that we all play in supporting accessible sport experiences throughout Manitoba.”

This year’s Manitoba Accessibility Award, which recognizes organizations committed to support for people with disabilities, was presented to the Arts AccessAbility Network of Manitoba.

The organization has audited venues and theatres to remove barriers and it maintains an online database.

Executive director Jenel Shaw said the organization sees accessibility as “the very foundation of artistic freedom.”

“Disability for us is not a deficit, it’s a perspective, a source of insight, beauty and innovation,” she said.

“When we talk about accessibility, we’re not just talking about ramps, ASL or print labels, though all of those matter deeply. We’re talking about cultural change, about building art spaces where disabled and deaf artists are not only included, but centred.”

— With files from The Canadian Press

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca