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From the Chair

Student safety is at the heart of the College

That’s why we regularly review our practices with an eye for continuing improvement.  

by Liz Papadopoulos, OCT

The College has a critical responsibility to protect the public interest and the safety of Ontario students. It is essential that students, our most vulnerable citizens, are protected.

Nothing is more important.

That’s why, as we reported to you during the summer, we have commissioned the Honourable Patrick J. LeSage, former Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, to review our investigation and disciplinary procedures and outcomes and our dispute resolution program.

LeSage is a very well-respected legal practitioner, well-known for his work in reviewing the Ontario police complaints system and the Canadian military justice provisions of the National Defence Act.

We can always do better. And if there are any flaws in our practices, we want to fix them.

He presided over some of Canada’s most publicized and complex cases, and he has served on a number of national and provincial commissions.

He was made a member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Ontario justice system and for his ongoing dedication to public service. In 2009 he was appointed a member of the Order of Ontario.

The College regularly asks independent experts to review key aspects of the College’s practices to ensure that we continue to serve the public interest effectively.

For example, recent reviews have led to changes in how we register applicants and communicate discipline decisions.

In 2002 the College released its first professional advisory, Professional Misconduct Related to Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct, in response to a broad judicial review of sexual misconduct in the school system conducted by Justice Sydney Robins.

Given the time that has elapsed, we thought it would be prudent and timely to review the currency and relevance of the advice we provided to our members and our practices and procedures across the College’s entire investigation and disciplinary mandate.

This independent review will help ensure that we continue to improve our practices and that they remain transparent, objective and fair.

All of us involved in education bear the responsibility to make sure students are safe.

The College provides Ontario students and parents with the most transparent teaching profession in Canada and with certification information about every member, available on our web site 24/7, along with details of all public disciplinary hearings.

But we can always do better. And if there are any flaws in our practices, we want to fix them.

Accountability is important to Ontario’s teaching profession. The College holds our members to high standards in their practice and in their ethical conduct.

The College also holds our own practices to high standards of accountability. We continually reflect on our practices to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect students.

All of us involved in education bear the responsibility to make sure students are safe. This independent review that we commissioned focuses on how we at the College are doing our part.

We have asked Patrick LeSage to complete his review by May 31, 2012. His report will be made public by the College.

by Liz Papadopoulos, OCT