Manitoba NDP, Tories trade accusations and insults in testy legislature session

WINNIPEG – Insults and accusations have been flying in the Manitoba legislature this week in an atmosphere so noisy that Speaker Tom Lindsey has complained that he is having a hard time hearing what’s being said.

The governing New Democrats accused Opposition Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan on Tuesday of using bigoted and transphobic language, after he criticized Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. The NDP accused Khan of uttering the phrase “whatever you are” to Asagwara, who is non-binary, and calling Asagwara a terrible person.

The alleged remark was made while politicians were yelling and heckling, and did not register on a recording of the proceedings.

Khan denied the accusation Tuesday and elaborated on Wednesday. He told reporters he was telling the NDP to repeat their comments outside the legislature chamber, where they would not be protected by parliamentary privilege from potential libel.

“I did say ‘you are a terrible person.’ I followed that up by saying ‘whatever you are saying, say it outside’ … because (politicians) are protected by parliamentary privilege in the chamber,” Khan said.

The Tories have launched accusations of their own, alleging two cabinet ministers used the phrase “poor immigrant story” to refer to Khan’s life. 

NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine denied the accusation. She said she never uses the word “immigrant,” preferring words such as newcomer or settler.

The Tories also complained after Fontaine, heard clearly in the chamber after question period, said Khan had used “harmful, bigoted, racist” language. Fontaine said she was simply calling out the Tories for their actions.

Legislature Speaker Tom Lindsey has tried to maintain order and has cautioned politicians to tone things down, but Khan accused Lindsey of letting the NDP get away with bad behaviour. Lindsey was elected as a New Democrat but is in a neutral role as Speaker and not part of the NDP caucus.

Khan accused Lindsey of not controlling proceedings and letting the NDP continue to hurl insults when they should be curtailed.

“The Speaker, as you know, is supposed to be non-political, non-biased, down the middle. I don’t see how that’s being conducted that way right now,” Khan told reporters.

Accusations of improper language and demeaning behaviour have been made several times in recent years in the legislature.

In 2016, some members of the NDP apologized after saying “shame” as female members of the Tories voted on a bill on sexual violence. They did not shame male Tories. 

In 2012, the NDP accused then-Opposition leader Brian Pallister of using a slur in the chamber, but Pallister consistently denied making the remark and there was no recording of it.

Tempers flared last fall as Premier Wab Kinew used the word “bigot” against the Tories and called them “tofu-eaters.” A Tory member was chastised for using the word “Pinocchio” to accuse Kinew of not being truthful on an issue.

The latest dust-up came as the NDP government faced a deadline of sorts to introduce bills. 

Wednesday was the last day, under legislature rules, for government bills to be put forward in order to have a good chance of being passed into law before the summer break in June.

More than 40 bills have been introduced so far, but the government had not yet produced a long-promised bill that would establish a Crown-Indigenous corporation. The new body is supposed to guide a proposed trade corridor through the Port of Churchill, which is being considered by the federal government as one of several major initiatives in the national interest.

Fontaine said the bill was still being finalized.

“The premier is always very adamant about not rushing things and getting things done right. And so I think that that’s what we’re looking at right now,” Fontaine said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2026.