Manitoba minister will keep job after social media post about Charlie Kirk, premier says

Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine will remain in her cabinet post after resharing a social media post about the recent killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Premier Wab Kinew said Friday, provided she apologizes for her remarks.

Fontaine sparked immediate backlash when she reposted a message that described Kirk as a "racist, xenophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, sexist, white nationalist mouthpiece" and said she extended "absolutely no empathy for people like that," offering sympathy only for his children. The minister deleted the story several hours later and published an apology on Instagram in which she wrote: "I apologize for sharing a post yesterday on the murder of Charlie Kirk. Violence has no place in our democracy. Political debate is achieved with words and discussion. In a world too often divided, we should strive to show empathy to everyone even those we don’t agree with."

Kinew, who publicly condemned Kirk's killing, told reporters he would not remove Fontaine from cabinet because he "doesn't believe in cancel culture" and that it would be "too easy to show her the door." He said his preference was to "work through this together" and to use the episode to reinforce the importance of empathy and unity. On radio, Kinew said he was disturbed by Fontaine's language and reiterated that compassion should guide political debate even when views differ.

The decision not to fire Fontaine drew criticism from some quarters. The Winnipeg Sun ran a front-page headline questioning the premier's choice, and commentators noted that a number of people have lost employment after mocking or celebrating Kirk's death, including at least one worker who refused to print flyers for a vigil. Kinew acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation and said his approach aimed to balance accountability with rehabilitation.

Fontaine's Instagram post followed the announcement that Kirk had been killed in Utah. After deleting the initial reshared post, Fontaine issued the apology and said political disagreements should be resolved through discussion rather than through expressions that could be seen as endorsing violence.

The minister has faced controversy before. In 2024 she apologized after a hot-mic incident in which she was heard criticizing a sign language interpreter at a public event, saying she had been "thrown off" by the interpreter's signing. At that time Fontaine pledged to participate in deaf-culture training and issued an apology for the remarks.

Both Fontaine's and Kinew's offices did not immediately provide further comment when contacted. The matter adds to ongoing debates in Canadian politics about the boundaries of public expression by elected officials, the responsibilities of political leaders to condemn violence, and the consequences faced by individuals who post inflammatory material on social media.

Kinew framed his choice as a test of leadership that emphasizes reconciliation and persuasion over immediate expulsion from public office. Fontaine's future in cabinet will now hinge on whether the premier and colleagues view her apology as sufficient and on broader public reaction in Manitoba and beyond.