Changes to Real Property Matters: s.194 of the Education Act and O. Reg. 374/23
The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023, S.O. 2023, c. 11 has come into force with respect to the newly imposed powers of the province in acquisitions and dispositions of school board property. Beginning December 31, 2023, considerable changes […]
Bill C-27 and the protection of children’s privacy
In June 2022, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry introduced in the House of Commons Bill C-27, An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act […]
Ontario Government tables legislation to prohibit strike or lockout
On October 31, 2022, the Ontario government introduced Bill 28, Keeping Students in Class Act, 2022. If passed, this legislation would prohibit CUPE workers (approximately 55,000 Ontario education workers, including educational assistants, custodians, librarians, and early childhood educators) from striking […]
College of Teachers revokes teaching licenses as a result of speech
Two recent cases heard by the Ontario College of Teachers addressed the behaviour of teachers who were espousing racist and disparaging remarks both in and outside the classroom. Ontario College of Teachers v Dimarco, 2021 ONOCT 142 Along with allegations […]
Anti-SLAPP motion protects TCDSB trustees from defamation claim
In Volpe v. Wong-Tam 2022 ONSC 3106, the Ontario Superior Court granted an anti-SLAPP motion and dismissed a defamation suit against City of Toronto councillors and Toronto Catholic District School Board (“TCDSB”) school trustees. The plaintiffs, M.T.E.C. Consultants Ltd., which […]
Investigation of CoreFour Inc. (Edsby) by Privacy Commissioner of Canada
On May 20, 2021, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) announced the release of a privacy report reviewing the compliance of CoreFour Inc., which operates an educational software application called Edsby, with the Personal Information Protection and […]
Political opinion about masks does not attract protection on the basis of creed
A recent decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (the “Tribunal”) may assist school boards, many of which have received requests for mask exemptions on the basis of “a sincerely held belief” by a parent that their child should […]
Privacy Law & Data Protection
The federal Digital Charter Implementation Act was introduced for First Reading on November 17, 2020 as Bill C-11. If enacted, the new Consumer Privacy Protection Act will replace the privacy portions of the current Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), […]
Changes to education leadership in Ontario
Over the past few months, 14 of the 72 Ontario Directors of Education have either announced their retirement or left their positions. Such a significant turnover in leadership will not only be felt by the school boards with vacancies, but […]
COVID-19: Emergency preparedness and communications
On March 9, 2020 we presented an urgent “Morning Recess” webinar summarizing for our school board clients their legal rights and responsibilities in the face of the global spread of the COVID-19 virus. Please contact us if you would like […]
