ManitobaThe topic of political violence dominated question period as MLAs returned to the Manitoba Legislature for the beginning of the fall sitting on Wednesday, one day after a fire was started at the constituency office of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine.NDP, PCs condemn arson, vandalism at offices of 2 NDP MLAs in recent weeksBryce Hoye · CBC News · Posted: Oct 01, 2025 8:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoFall sitting began at the Manitoba Legislature on Wednesday, with several MLAs rising to condemn recent acts of political violence in the province and beyond. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)The topic of political violence dominated question period as MLAs returned to the Manitoba Legislature for the beginning of the fall sitting on Wednesday, one day after a fire was started at the constituency office of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine.Several New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives condemned recent acts of arson and vandalism at the offices of Fontaine and Bernadette Smith, the minister responsible for housing, addictions and homelessness.”This is unacceptable and as a government we unequivocally reject violence against Indigenous women and all forms of political violence,” Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz, the NDP MLA for River Heights, said during question period.”They are attacks on democratic institutions, on the ability of elected officials to serve the public and on the safety of their staff and constituents,” said Josh Guenter, the PC MLA for Borderland.MLAs across the chamber stood for a moment of silence against political violence.Winnipeg police have been investigating four fires at Smith’s Point Douglas constituency office, at the corner of Selkirk Avenue and Arlington Street, set between the beginning of August and mid-September.Windows were also recently smashed at Fontaine’s Main Street office and a fire was set there early Tuesday morning.Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Bernadette Smith on Wednesday during the first question period. Police are investigating several fires at her Point Douglas office. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)Premier Wab Kinew suggested during question period Wednesday that the acts against the first two First Nations women to hold cabinet positions in Manitoba could be both examples of “gender-based violence … Indigenous-specific racism.”Kinew told reporters after question period that officials are discussing security at MLAs’ constituency offices on the heels of recent events, but he didn’t share details.Fontaine recently apologized for sharing a social media post from a U.S.-based Indigenous activist after the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. The post characterized Kirk as a “racist, xenophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic” person who stood for “nothing but hate.”Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine during question period on Wednesday. Police are also investigating vandalism and a fire set at her office in recent weeks. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)”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,” reads a statement issued by Fontaine on Sept. 12.A group held a protest “Nahanni Must Go” rally outside the legislature Wednesday afternoon, coinciding with the beginning of the fall session, calling for Fontaine to be removed from cabinet.Two officers monitor the ‘Nahanni Must Go’ rally from atop the Manitoba Legislative Building on Wednesday afternoon. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)Official Opposition Leader Obby Khan called arson and vandalism at constituency offices “egregious” and said, “I condemn such acts completely,” but he said incidents at the ministers’ offices shouldn’t prevent his PCs from asking questions of the NDP government.”That’s not wrong. That’s not too soon. It’s our job in opposition to ask tough questions,” said Khan.He suggested Fontaine’s post “rationalized” the killing of Kirk and questioned why Kinew hadn’t stripped her of her cabinet position. Khan held up a binder which he said contained 450 emails from the public calling for her removalManitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he stands by his decision to keep Fontaine in cabinet Wednesday. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)During question period, Kinew said, “I’m keeping the minister in cabinet because she is a great minister and because I don’t believe in cancel culture.The premier added, “Go and tell the people who are gathering here this afternoon that you should not be protesting a minister of the Crown’s right to serve the people of Manitoba, and I would say to the goofballs out front if you have an issue, you have an issue with me.”The charged back-and-forth came after Speaker of the House Tom Lindsey noted issues with poor decorum in the spring session. He warned MLAs that if they ignore his warnings moving forward they risk getting booted from question period.
Topic of political violence dominates agenda as fall sitting begins at Manitoba Legislature
