Stonewalled and Silent: Community Demands Transparency from Minister Bernadette Smith

Weeks after a violent act of vandalism shook Minister Bernadette Smith’s constituency office at 804 Selkirk Street, the people of Point Douglas are still waiting for answers—and many are reaching a breaking point. Despite persistent outreach by media and community advocates, Smith’s office has yet to provide any public explanation or reassurance. What they have offered instead is silence.

The Winnipeg Police Service has confirmed that no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Beyond that, no further information has been shared. In fairness, police have noted that the investigation is ongoing. But when asked whether there is a suspect, whether the individual is known to law enforcement, or whether a person of interest has been identified—those questions remain unanswered. The only formal statement received from the Winnipeg Police was: “No updates since your call with Cst. McKinnon. No arrests have been made.”

That response, while limited, is understandable within the bounds of an active investigation. Law enforcement has obligations to process, evidence, and due diligence. What’s not understandable is the total silence from Minister Bernadette Smith’s office. In the absence of public information from police, it becomes even more urgent for elected officials to step up—to inform, to reassure, and to lead. Instead, Smith’s office has left a vacuum.

We submitted a series of clear, respectful questions to the Minister: Does she intend to hold a town hall—virtually or in person—to brief her constituents? Is there a legitimate safety concern prompting her frequent appearances with legislative security when in the ward? And if there is a threat, does she believe the broader community is also at risk? These questions, too, have gone unanswered.

This isn’t simply an issue of poor communication. It has become a disturbing reflection of how detached an elected official can appear from the very people they represent. Point Douglas is a community that already faces more than its share of challenges. When a violent act occurs at the local MLA’s office—one serious enough to involve police intervention—the expectation is clear: show up, speak up, and give people the truth.

Community members describe a growing unease, not just about the incident itself, but about what hasn’t been said. Who committed this act? Why? Is the individual still in the area? In a neighborhood that already struggles with vulnerability, the lack of information feels not just careless—it feels like abandonment.

“If the person who did this is still walking around the community, we should know. We should be warned,” said one local resident. “Why is our MLA silent? Why does it feel like we’re being ignored?”

Residents have also noticed Minister Smith’s limited presence in the community. And when she does appear, it’s often under visible security escort. That raises fair questions: Does she know something the public doesn’t? Does she feel at risk—and if so, why hasn’t she told her constituents whether they are too?

This is not an unreasonable ask. If an elected official feels unsafe in her own riding, the people who live there every day deserve to know whether they should be concerned for their own safety as well. Silence on that front is not only unacceptable—it’s potentially dangerous.

There has been no attempt from the Minister to speak directly to constituents. No virtual briefings. No community notices. Not even a Facebook post. The damage to her office is no longer just physical—it has become symbolic. It represents a rupture in trust. A sense among residents that their representative is unwilling—or unable—to show up in the moments that matter most.

In Point Douglas, silence doesn’t read as caution. It reads as disregard. The questions aren’t complicated. The answers shouldn’t be either. The community simply wants to know: are they safe? Are they being heard? And if not, who exactly is looking out for them?

At this point, the damage isn’t just to a window—it’s to public trust. Trust that their MLA is present. Trust that leadership exists in times of tension. Trust that safety concerns are taken seriously by those who hold public office.

But the only thing Point Douglas has been given is silence. And that silence speaks volumes.