All members of the College are required to report any suspected sexual misconduct by another member. Now, any confusion about whether they must advise the accused regarding their report has been clarified.

Minister of Education Elizabeth Witmer has announced Cabinet’s approval of an amendment to Section 18 of the Regulation under the Teaching Profession Act, which had been passed by the Board of Governors of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF). The OTF put forward the amendment to clarify requirements for notification of colleagues about an adverse report.

Section 18 of the Regulation made by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation Board of Governors is amended by adding the following subsection:

(1.1.) Notwithstanding clause (b) of subsection (1), a member who makes an adverse report about another member respecting suspected sexual abuse of a student by that other member need not provide him or her with a copy of the report or with any information about the report.

The amendment reinforces the professional advisory that was included in Professionally Speaking’s December 2002 issue and presented in information sessions conducted by the College in 15 communities throughout the province in last fall. The College provided members with similar advice and added:

Members of the College may not engage in, or threaten to engage in, reprisals against anyone who discloses, reports or otherwise provides information with respect to alleged or suspected professional misconduct of a sexual nature.

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