A Manitoba cabinet minister has publicly apologized for sharing a social media post that criticized conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in the United States. Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine shared the post on her Instagram account for several hours before removing it. The post, originally from a U.S.-based Indigenous activist, labeled Kirk as a "racist, xenophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic" figure who represented nothing but hate.

Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He was pronounced dead shortly after the incident. Fontaine's post drew significant backlash, prompting her to issue a statement through her press secretary on Friday. In her apology, Fontaine stated, "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."

The original post Fontaine shared expressed a lack of empathy for Kirk, except for his children who witnessed the tragic event. It described him as a "white nationalist mouthpiece" and accused him of profiting from inciting hatred. The post quickly circulated on social media, leading to criticism from various quarters.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew condemned the language used in the post, calling it "terrible" and indicating he would discuss the matter with Fontaine. Kinew had previously spoken out against the violence of Kirk's assassination, labeling it a "very, very chilling, disturbing act." The incident has sparked discussions about the tone of political discourse and the responsibilities of public officials in their communications.