Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women. (Government of Alberta)

By Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta minister of arts, culture and Status of Women apologizes for using expletive

Nov 17, 2025 | 11:49 AM

Alberta’s minister of arts, culture and Status of Women has apologized for using an expletive in a voice message left for a constituent.

Tanya Fir, the United Conservative Party legislature member for the Calgary-Peigan riding, says in a statement that she used the inappropriate word in a moment of poor judgment.

She also says she has been referred to by the expletive in political disagreements in the past few weeks.

Fir used the foul language in a voice mail recording that Alberta columnist Doug Firby released over the weekend.

The message begins with Fir saying she’s returning the constituent’s call and notes feedback left for her before saying goodbye.

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Fir then seemingly hangs up the phone but the recording continues as she begins talking to someone else and, in that conversation, refers to the next person she has to call as the expletive.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2025.