News Release
September 26, 2001
Harris government to protect students from sexual abuse
TORONTO – The Ontario government is introducing a bill today that, if passed, will establish tough measures to protect students from sexual abuse, Education Minister Janet Ecker announced today.
"Our primary goal is giving students the highest quality education possible in a safe environment," Ecker said. "We will not tolerate any sexual abuse of students. We will take the necessary steps to help ensure that students are safe in our schools."
The Student Protection Act, 2001, responds to a report by
retired Justice Sydney L. Robins on sexual misconduct in
Ontario schools. Justice Robins reviewed events leading to
the 1996 conviction of a Sault Ste. Marie teacher for sexually
assaulting 13 students over 21 years.
The government has moved forward with a number of initiatives to
protect children from sexual and physical abuse including
a stronger Child and Family Services Act which clarifies
the public's responsibilities to report a child who may need
protection, a Provincial Model for a Local Police/School
Board Protocol for police involvement in schools and an increase
of specially designed child friendly courts.
The Robins report contained 101 recommendations that have been seriously
reviewed by school boards, teachers' federations, the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) and other education partners. Acting on recommendations from the Robins report and our education
partners, the Student Protection Act, 2001, if passed,
would set a clear definition of sexual abuse and strengthen
the authority of the Ontario College of Teachers to enforce
high standards of conduct and take action in instances of
sexual abuse.
Highlights of the bill include:
- a comprehensive definition of sexual abuse so that students are better protected from sexual harassment and sexual assault;
- situations where a certified teacher in a school has been charged with a sexual offence against a student would have to be reported to the Ontario College of Teachers by the employer. Public schools, independent schools, tutoring companies and other organizations would be required to do this if they employ teachers certified by the OCT to instruct students;
- teachers charged with sexual assault in a publicly funded school would be removed from the classroom;
- employers and the OCT would be required to share information about disciplinary action against certified teachers. This would help prevent a teacher moving, undetected, to another school if he or she has been disciplined or charged with a sexual offence against a student. It would also help prevent a teacher in this situation from quitting and moving undetected to a job at another school.
- employers of certified teachers would face fines, upon conviction, of up to $25,000 for breaking the reporting rules;
- clarifying that teachers are not required to inform their colleagues when making a report about them with regard to sexual abuse. The Ministry of Education will be working to extend this to all situations where a student may be at risk of potential harm.
"We know the vast majority of teachers have and deserve the respect of their students, parents and their communities," said Ecker. "However, there have been individuals who have abused their position of trust. These measures will help to ensure that we are able to protect our students."
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