Manitoba Speaker Ejects Tory MLA Wayne Ewasko Over Alleged Racist Heckle of Premier Kinew

Key facts

• Speaker Tom Lindsey ejected Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Ewasko from the Manitoba legislature on Monday, May 13.
• Ewasko allegedly heckled Premier Wab Kinew on April 15, saying 'Wab, you’re drunk. I thought you quit drinking.'
• Kinew, who is Anishinaabe, said the comment was racist, invoking a stereotype about Indigenous people and alcohol.
• Ewasko apologized conditionally but refused to give an unequivocal apology, leading to his ejection until Tuesday.
• Ewasko is the first MLA ejected since NDP's Nahanni Fontaine in 2021 for refusing to withdraw the word 'crap'.
• Government House Leader Nahanni Fontaine called Ewasko's comment 'disgusting' and accused the PCs of bigotry.
• Ewasko previously served as interim PC leader after Heather Stefanson resigned in October 2023.
• Education Minister Tracy Schmidt accused Ewasko of racist behaviour during a separate debate on teacher commissioner Bobbi Taillefer's departure.

Speaker's Crackdown After Chaotic Spring Sitting

Speaker Tom Lindsey ejected Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Ewasko from the Manitoba legislature on Monday, warning that further disruptions could lead to more expulsions. The move comes after a spring session marred by intense heckling, which Lindsey said has reached 'high levels of volume' and 'increasingly low levels of quality discourse.' Lindsey ordered Ewasko to leave for the day over comments made last month while heckling Premier Wab Kinew. The Speaker had demanded an unequivocal apology, but when Ewasko offered only a conditional apology—saying he was sorry if Kinew took offence—Lindsey deemed it insufficient and expelled him. 'Members of the public... feel that what they're seeing going on in this chamber is terrible, and they're begging me to do something about it,' Lindsey said, adding that school teachers have expressed discomfort with students witnessing question period.

The Alleged Heckle and Its Fallout

The incident occurred on April 15 during question period, when Opposition Leader Obby Khan was asking Kinew about the provincial gas tax. Ewasko directed a comment about drinking towards the premier. Fontaine initially only heard a remark about quitting drinking, but a colleague sitting near hearing him say, 'Wab, you’re drunk. I thought you quit drinking.' Kinew, who has been open about his past struggles with alcohol addiction, said the comment was racist. 'It is a discriminatory comment that plays on an ugly stereotype about Anishinaabe people,' Kinew told reporters. He noted that other politicians who do not drink, such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford and U.S. President Donald Trump, are not subjected to similar remarks. Ewasko denied the comment was racist, calling it a reflection on Kinew's own behaviour during question period. 'It was a little off (from) how he usually answers questions or doesn't answer questions,' Ewasko said. 'His behaviour was unacceptable, I feel, as a premier.'

Nahanni Fontaine's Condemnation and Broader Accusations

Nahanni Fontaine, who is both Government House Leader and Minister of Families, reacted strongly to the alleged comment. In the chamber, she shouted 'What did you say?' and 'You’re disgusting!' after the remark. Later, she posted on Instagram, calling the language 'disappointing,' 'hurtful,' 'harmful,' and 'dangerous' when directed at an Indigenous man. Fontaine, who is Indigenous herself, said the comment promoted the stereotype of the 'drunken Indigenous man.' She questioned why Ewasko would say such a thing only to the premier and not to any white member of the legislature. 'If you’re going to say that to the premier, I mean what are you saying in your private life about Indigenous peoples, right?' she said. In her Instagram post, Fontaine accused the Progressive Conservatives of espousing 'anti-Black, anti-Indigenous racism, transphobia, misogyny' and called them 'a bunch of bigots.' She added, 'If you don’t want to be called a racist, if you don’t want to be called a bigot, if you don’t want to be called a transphobe, if you don’t want to be called misogynist, try not being one.'

Ewasko's Political Role and Past Controversies

Wayne Ewasko, the MLA for Lac du Bonnet, has been a prominent figure in the Progressive Conservative Party. He served as education minister under former premier Heather Stefanson and later became interim PC leader after Stefanson resigned following the party's defeat in the October 2023 election. Ewasko is currently the leader of the Official Opposition. During his tenure as education minister, Ewasko faced criticism for chronic underfunding and a failed attempt at education reform. More recently, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt accused him of making offensive jokes about Indigenous Manitobans and displaying 'racist behaviour in the chamber.' Schmidt also attacked his brief stint as interim PC leader, claiming he failed to discipline caucus members for ethics violations and Islamophobic remarks. Ewasko has acknowledged that the PCs need to rebuild trust with Manitobans, particularly after widely condemned election ads that touted the party's refusal to search a landfill for the remains of First Nations women. He said the party must remember the 'progressive' side of its name and focus on fiscal responsibility while providing a 'hand up or hand out' to those in need.

Historical Context of Legislative Ejections

Ewasko is the first politician to be ejected from the Manitoba legislature since NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine in 2021. Fontaine was ordered out after refusing to withdraw the word 'crap' from an accusation she made against the then-Progressive Conservative government. That incident also highlighted tensions over decorum and the use of language in the chamber. Speaker Lindsey has repeatedly tried to clamp down on heckling in recent months, with little effect. Monday's ejection and the new list of forbidden words represent his latest attempt to restore order. Lindsey warned that he will now be more likely to eject members for the day if they disregard his orders. The ejection comes amid a broader pattern of heated exchanges in the legislature, including a bitter shouting match over the departure of independent commissioner of teacher professional conduct Bobbi Taillefer. During that debate, Education Minister Schmidt faced intense grilling over inconsistencies in the government's timeline of Taillefer's resignation.

What Comes Next for Ewasko and the PCs

Ewasko's expulsion from the chamber is temporary—he is expected to return Tuesday—but the political fallout may linger. The incident has deepened divisions between the NDP government and the Progressive Conservatives, with both sides accusing each other of misconduct. Ewasko has not ruled out a run for the permanent PC leadership in the fall, which could further shape the party's direction. For the PCs, the controversy underscores the challenge of rebuilding trust with Manitobans, particularly Indigenous communities. Ewasko's denial of racism and the party's history of controversial ads may complicate efforts to appeal to a broader electorate. The NDP, meanwhile, has seized on the incident to paint the PCs as out of touch and divisive. As the legislature continues its spring sitting, Speaker Lindsey's new rules may face further tests. The question remains whether ejections and forbidden words can curb the toxic atmosphere that has come to define question period in Manitoba.

The bottom line

• Speaker Tom Lindsey ejected Tory MLA Wayne Ewasko for a comment perceived as racist toward Premier Wab Kinew, who is Indigenous.
• Ewasko's alleged remark, 'Wab, you’re drunk,' invoked a harmful stereotype about Indigenous people and alcohol.
• Kinew, who has publicly discussed his past alcohol addiction, called the comment discriminatory and racist.
• Government House Leader Nahanni Fontaine accused the PCs of systemic bigotry, including anti-Indigenous racism.
• Ewasko, a former education minister and interim PC leader, denied the comment was racist and blamed Kinew's behaviour.
• The ejection is part of a broader effort by Speaker Lindsey to restore decorum after a chaotic spring session.