Manitobans will be able to see disciplinary records of teachers in online registry by next year: minister

An online registry disclosingwhether Manitoba teachers havebeen foundguilty of misconduct is expected to be available bythis time next year, the province'seducation minister says.

The NDP government is following through on legislation from the previous Progressive Conservative administration that will helpregulatethe teaching profession, Nello Altomare confirmed on Thursday.

"It's a good bill to move forward," the education ministersaid.

"It's justsomething that reassures parents, communities, that the people in front of their children are qualified to do what they're doing and also free of any charges that could put into jeopardy children in the classroom."

Bill 35,the Education Administration Amendment Act, passed unanimously last spring before the PC government was defeated by the NDP in October's electionbut thechanges haven't taken effect.

Altomare said the province is working toward establishingthe teacher registry and appointingthe independent commissioner12 months from now.Some of the policies and regulations for those initiatives will be ready by thefall, he said.

The registry will let the publicfind information about an educator's teaching certificate, including the date it was issued and its current status,as well asthe teacher's educational background.

Child protection group wanted transparency

The online database will also include a record of any disciplinary action taken againstteachers something the Canadian Centre for Child Protection called for in a 2022 report thatsaid all provinces shoulddiscloseinstances of educator misconduct.

That report found thatbetween 2017 and the end of 2021, 252 current or former school personnel in K-12 schools in Canada committed or were accused of committing sexual offences against students. Another 38 were charged for offences related to child sexual abuse materials.

Someprovinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia, already have public registries that let people see whether a teacher has faced discipline.

"We'll learn lessons from other registriesin Canada and apply them here," Altomare said, to "create something that will work well for community members [and]work well for teachers as well."

There are similar registries in place for various other professionals in Manitoba, including physicians and lawyers.

Altomaresaid an independent commissionerwill also be in placeby January2025, who willoversee a new discipline process for teachers.

The exact process will be established at a later date, the minister said, but the commissionerwill review complaints from the public, school boards and other employers about teacher misconduct and incompetence, and take whateveractions they see fit, including dismissing a complaint ororderinga hearing.

A hearing panel could cancel a teacher's certificate, place limitationsor reprimand the teacher.

Altomare said the government will consult with stakeholders before proceeding withvarious aspects of the law, but he'd like the independent commissioner to have abackground in public education, as well as in training and certification for teachers.

'Glad we're moving forward': education critic

After the legislation wasintroduced last year, it faced pushback from theManitoba Teachers' Society, which initially decried the bill as "anti-teacher," saying itwould exposeteachersto frivolous complaints because of an overly broad definition of "misconduct."

The teachers' union also criticized the PC government for including evaluation of teachercompetence in abillprimarily focused on addressing misconduct.

MTS also raised issues with a lack of union representation at hearings, but that wasrectified before the bill waspassed.

The union declined an interview request on Thursday, but president Nathan Martindale said in an email MTS willtake part in any future consultations to shape the new law.

Canadian Centre for Child Protection education director Noni Classenwants to be part of the consultation process as well.

She saiddefinitions for what constitutes competency andmisconduct, along with details abouthow complaints are received and reviewed, are among the points to be ironed out.

The centre is "happy the province is taking time to do that and not rushing through that process, as it does need to be done right for the protection of children," said Classen.

She's looking forward to the registry addressing a gap in public knowledge aroundteachermisconduct in Manitoba.

Hiring bodies already conduct criminal record checks, but those reports don't shed light on any history that falls short ofcriminal wrongdoing, such as inappropriate communication with a student.

These are "boundary transgressions that any person would likely find alarming or unacceptable between a teacher and a student," Classen said.

Wayne Ewasko, the Progressive Conservative education critic and Manitoba's former education minister, said he's pleased his party's bill is moving forward, but wishes itwouldn't take12 months for some aspects to be enacted.

"It's looking like it's going to take a little bit longer than what we would have implemented, but that being said, the priority ofstudents is No. 1,and I'mglad we're moving forward."

Ewasko said he'd like appointing theindependent commissioner to be the first step in implementing the legislation,so that other policies are developed froma non-partisan perspective.

Teacher disciplinary records online in Manitoba by next year

9 months ago

Duration 1:53

The NDP government is moving forward with a PC bill designed to root out teacher misconduct. The teacher registry and the hiring of an independent commissioner will be in place by Jan. 2025.