Wayne Ewasko became the first MLA ejected from the Manitoba legislature in over two years for comments deemed racist towards Premier Wab Kinew. The incident reflects ongoing tensions surrounding Indigenous issues within the legislative assembly.
The Speaker of the House, Tom Lindsey, stated that Ewasko was removed after he failed to apologize for his remarks. These comments, which included a suggestion that Kinew had been drinking, were labeled as discriminatory by Kinew himself — a statement that plays on an ugly stereotype about Anishinaabe people.
In an effort to restore decorum in the legislative chamber, Lindsey announced new rules banning certain words like “bigot,” “racist,” and “misogynist.” This move follows complaints from the public regarding excessive heckling and unparliamentary language that has plagued discussions in recent sessions.
NDP House leader Nahanni Fontaine condemned Ewasko’s remarks, emphasizing that such behavior could no longer go unchecked. She noted that if members engage in racism or other forms of discrimination without consequences, it undermines the integrity of parliamentary privilege.
As a response to these issues, Lindsey remarked, “Members of the public are stopping me on the street and saying … what they’re seeing going on in this chamber is terrible, and they’re begging me to do something about it.” This underscores a growing concern about how discourse in the legislature reflects broader societal attitudes.
Observers now await further developments regarding enforcement of these new rules. Will they effectively curb unacceptable language? Or will they merely serve as another layer of regulation without real impact?
