A Guide to Teacher Discipline Cases

In Canada, education is largely a provincial and territorial responsibility, so how cases of teacher discipline are dealt with will differ from province to province and territory to territory. In some provinces or territories, such cases are dealt with by the government department, in others, by the teachers’ association. Available information concerning teacher discipline will also differ from province to province and territory to territory.

Only three provincial teachers’ associations, for instance, (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario) publish decisions concerning teacher discipline on their web sites. Other provinces and territories do not make such information publicly accessible unless by special request or do not publish the information at all as a matter of policy or cite privacy issues as their reason for not giving out that data. Below, is a basic guide to what kind of information can be accessed and how it can be accessed in each province and territory.

British Columbia

The BC College of Teachers publishes discipline decisions on their website. The College will release information regarding a teacher's discipline record if it is requested. As well, the College will confirm if an investigation has been ordered.

Alberta

The Alberta Teachers' Association website publishes outcomes of some disciplinary hearings. According to Robert Bisson of the ATA: "Hearings are public, and we publish the outcome of hearings where the membership of the teacher has been suspended or cancelled. Individuals can obtain a report of the hearing committee of a particular member." The public can contact Dr. Gordon Thomas, Executive Secretary, Alberta Teacher's Association to obtain a summary report of a hearing.

Saskatchewan

No information about teacher discipline is available on a website. According to Diane Neal of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, the public can make a request by phone, but will only be told whether or not a teacher is in good standing. According to Laura Beard of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation: "Hearings are open to the public, but the committee has the authority to exclude the public if the testimony will unduly violate the privacy of a person other than the teacher whose conduct is subject to the complaint."

Manitoba

No information regarding teacher discipline cases is available on a website. The Manitoba Teachers' Society does not keep statistics. According to Ray Jobe: "…there are 38 divisions and a parent would have to go to the specific division." Carolyn Duhamel, Manitoba Association of School Trustees told the fifth estate that information for parents is limited. Disciplinary hearings are closed.

Ontario

The Ontario College of Teachers publishes a public register on their website listing all the teachers in Ontario (those who have taught in a publicly-funded school or school system) with information re: certification, teaching qualifications, where they received their education, their membership status with the College and any terms, conditions or limitations that affect their ability to teach in Ontario's publicly funded schools. Disciplinary notations are included on a member's record. Discipline hearings are open to the public.
See the 2006 report online.

Quebec

The Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers

New Brunswick

Although the website for the New Brunswick Teachers' Association does outline a Code of Ethics for teachers, no information concerning disciplinary hearings is available. According to Jim Dysart: "Depending on the outcome of various procedures, the final determination may be public. There is a member of the public on our provincial committee for the Code and of course any criminal process would be handled like all others. If there is a determination of unsuitability to serve as a teacher, the Department of Education would be involved as per the Education Act. Teacher records, in general, are not available to the public." No statistics re discipline are available.

Prince Edward Island

No information regarding discipline is available on the website for the Prince Edward Island Teachers' Federation. According to Phyllis Horne: "The Federation does not keep stats on cases…This is the responsibility of the school boards. It may only become public if it becomes a court case." According to Jane Dougherty, Communications, Department of Education, there is nothing published nor is there anything accessible.

Nova Scotia

No information regarding discipline cases is available on the Nova Scotia Department of Education website. Peter McLaughlin, of the Dept. of Education says that no information can be publicly accessed by parents. According to Angela Murray at the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union: "The only records available to the public would be in cases that go to trial. Arbitration is not public. Our files are closed. In some cases our files may be subpoenaed by the courts."

Newfoundland and Labrador

No information regarding teacher discipline cases is available on a website. The public can call the Registrar of Teacher Certification and will be told the status of a teacher's certificate.
Department of Education
Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association

Yukon

No information regarding teacher discipline cases is available on a website. According to Jim Tredger, President, Yukon Teachers' Association: "…they don't have access to any kind of statistics. There is no transparency, parents can't go to a website and get info. It's handled as a personnel matter right now."

Northwest Territories

No information on a website. According to Amanda Mallon of the Northwest Teachers' Association: "No part of the process is made public unless there are criminal charges pressed then preliminary hearings of the trial are public."

Nunavut

No information on a website. According to Jimmy Jacquard of the Nunavut Teachers' Association no information is published on their website and there is no way for the public to access information.