WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s premier is right to demand empathy in public life. Empathy is the baseline we expect after a tragic killing. Words that appear to condone or trivialize political violence are not. Yet Premier Wab Kinew’s response to Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine’s reshared post about Charlie Kirk has been to accept an apology and keep her in cabinet. That is a weak response to a serious problem.
Fontaine removed the post and issued an apology after widespread criticism. The province’s political opposition called for her removal. The facts are straightforward. A senior minister amplified a post that described the slain activist in extreme terms and stated, “I extend absolutely no empathy for people like that.” The post was widely circulated and prompted an immediate public reaction.
What makes this episode more than routine partisan heat is the context. Jewish communities and Jewish organizations report a sustained rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023. Independent research and global surveys show that hostility toward Jews and the normalization of antisemitic tropes remain significant problems in many countries.
In this environment, statements by public officials that appear to excuse or celebrate violence, even indirectly, take on special gravity and risk signaling that some targets of hate will not be defended.
For Jewish Manitobans, the calculus is practical as well as moral. They count on their provincial government to protect schools, synagogues, and community centres and to condemn rhetoric that feeds harassment. When a cabinet minister publicly shares content that dehumanizes a political opponent or minimizes the sanctity of life, it chips away at trust.
Trust is hard to build and easy to lose, and it matters in everyday safety planning, reporting of incidents, and the feeling of belonging that Jewish families expect from their elected leaders.
Some will argue that provincial ministers cannot control international affairs or trade. That is technically true. Tariff disputes and formal diplomatic negotiations are federal responsibilities. Yet optics and political signals do matter. Provinces that tolerate inflammatory language risk creating friction with diaspora partners and with American Jewish organizations that are watching how Canadian leaders respond to attacks on Jews and on those who defend Israel.
Worse, a pattern of tolerated incendiary comments can be seized by partisan actors to amplify polarization across borders. The proper response is not to overstate the province’s diplomatic leverage but to insist on higher standards of conduct at home.
This is not about silencing dissent. Democratic societies must defend vigorous debate, including robust critiques of political figures and policies. It is about the difference between criticizing viewpoints and amplifying calls or sentiments that verge on celebrating violence.
Political leaders owe Manitobans a code of basic civility and an explicit commitment to defend all communities from hate. That is especially true at a moment when antisemitic incidents and attitudes remain elevated across the world.
Premier Kinew faces a clear choice. He can treat this as an isolated lapse and move on. Or he can acknowledge that repeated controversies involving the same minister have cumulative effects and institute meaningful accountability. The province has already weathered a separate controversy involving Fontaine and comments about an American Sign Language interpreter. Repetition of this pattern strengthens calls for a firmer response.
Here is a practical, principled path forward that would serve Jewish Manitobans and the broader public interest.
- Require a formal review and written findings. A neutral, timely review of the incident and the minister’s pattern of public comments will document facts and demonstrate seriousness.
- Enforce a clear ministerial code of conduct. Cabinet ministers should be bound by explicit rules about amplifying content that condones violence or denigrates protected groups. Violations should bring graduated consequences up to removal from the cabinet.
- Reaffirm provincial commitment to protecting Jewish institutions. Fund and expand community safety grants, boost liaison capacity with Jewish communal security teams, and increase resources for reporting and prosecuting hate crimes.
- Invest in education and dialogue. Support Holocaust and antisemitism education in schools and workshops for public servants on distinguishing legitimate political criticism from hateful tropes.
These steps preserve democratic debate while drawing a bright line against rhetoric that feeds hate. They also show Jewish Manitobans that their government understands the stakes. The premier’s current posture of personal mediation and calls for empathy is a start, but it is insufficient by itself. Apologies must be paired with institutional change if they are to restore confidence.
Finally, the Jewish community’s role in Manitoba’s civic life is not optional. Jewish Manitobans are lawyers, teachers, business owners, students, and neighbours. They deserve a government that will defend them without equivocation.
The test of leadership is not how a premier comforts his base. It is how he protects vulnerable communities when politics gets ugly. In the face of rising global antisemitism, the safe choice is clear. Now Premier Kinew must make it.
This article is based on verified information from Global News, CityNews Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Free Press, Tel Aviv University’s Antisemitism Worldwide report, and the Anti-Defamation League.
The opinions and facts presented in this article are those of the author, and neither TheJ.Ca nor its partners assume any responsibility for them.
Email Template
Subject: Request for Information Regarding Ministerial Conduct and Community Safety
[Your full name]
[Street address]
[City, Province, Postal code]
[Email address]
[Phone number]
[Date]
Office of the Premier
Room 204, Legislative Building
450 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8
Email: premier@manitoba.ca
Dear Premier Kinew,
I am writing to express serious concern about recent public social media posts shared by Manitoba’s Families Minister, Nahanni Fontaine, including a reshared post about the killing of Charlie Kirk and prior posts critical of Israel. These posts have caused distress among members of the Jewish community and others who are concerned about rising antisemitism and the tone of public discourse.
As Manitoba’s elected provincial leader, I respectfully request the following information and clarifications:
- What steps, if any, will the provincial government take to review this incident under the ministerial code of conduct?
- Will the government undertake any specific actions to reassure and protect Jewish Manitobans and other targeted communities, including funding or support for community safety initiatives?
- Can you confirm whether any internal review or remedial process has been initiated and, if so, provide an expected timeline for outcomes and public reporting?
I ask these questions because community safety and public trust in elected officials depend on clear, consistent standards of conduct. I would appreciate a written response addressing the questions above. Please send your reply to [your email] or contact me at [phone].
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your name]