This section provides updates on licensing and qualification requirements, notification of Council resolutions and reports from various Council committees, including reports on accreditation and discipline matters.
College News
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College Engages in Stakeholder Consultation
In May, the College sought input on implementing changes that were recently made to the Ontario College of Teachers Act. A consultation carried out through questionnaires and conducted online, asked for responses from a range of College members, stakeholders and interested groups.
The consultation responses will help provide additional information to assist the College in clarifying and implementing requirements that were first described in Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020. The bill, which received royal assent in December 2020, made several changes to the Ontario College of Teachers Act. With these changes now law, the College used the consultation to ask for input on how changes will be formulated and carried out.
Consultation materials were sent to a random sample of Ontario Certified Teachers. Provincial stakeholder organizations received similar background and questionnaire materials and were invited to provide their input. "With Bill 229 as law, we are looking ahead to a swift and informed implementation of the changes that are so important for modernized College structures," said College Registrar and CEO Dr. Derek Haime, OCT. "Hearing from our members and our sector partners was critical to making sure we do this effectively and maintain clear lines of sight to our public interest role."
The consultation asked respondents questions about options the College could consider when implementing various parts of the bill, and explored program details across different topics. The consultation also asked about regulations that will be made in order to fully implement all parts of the changes. The responses received assisted the Transition Supervisory Officer in the finalization of new regulations and bylaws to help the College operate more efficiently and effectively.
Some of the changes to the College made possible by Bill 229's passage include:
requirements for a new governance structure;
requirements for a sexual abuse prevention education program for members; and
mandatory reporting of offences, charges, bail conditions or other restrictions.
The College plans to fully implement the new governance model, a sexual abuse prevention program, mandatory reporting, and other related initiatives in 2021 and early 2022.
New Reporting Obligations for College Members
The recently introduced Bill 229, the Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020, amended the Ontario College of Teachers Act to include new reporting obligations for College members for (1) offences and (2) charges, bail conditions or other restrictions. These reporting obligations took effect on December 8, 2020, and are set out below. Failure to comply with these reporting obligations may be considered to be professional misconduct.
The College consulted with College members and the public in May to inform the implementation of the member reporting obligations noted above.
It is important to note that the College is required to post on the public register current or previous criminal proceedings involving a member that are relevant to their membership, including any undertakings of the member in relation to the proceeding.
The public register must also contain any restrictions imposed on a member's eligibility to teach by an order of a court or other lawful authority, including the name and location of the court or authority, and the date the order was made.
OFFENCES
College members shall file a report in writing with the Registrar if they have been found guilty of an offence.
The report shall be filed as soon as reasonably practicable after the member receives notice of the finding of guilt.
The report must contain:
the name of the member filing the report;
the nature of, and a description of, the offence;
the date the member was found guilty of the offence;
the name and location of the court that found the member guilty of the offence; and
the status of any appeal initiated respecting the finding of guilt.
The report shall not contain any information that violates a publication ban. An additional report shall be filed by the member if there is a change in status of the finding of guilt as the result of an appeal.
CHARGES, BAIL CONDITIONS OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS
College members shall file in writing a report with the Registrar if the member has been charged with an offence, and the report shall include information about every bail condition or other restriction imposed on, or agreed to, by the member in connection with the charge. The report must be filed as soon as reasonably practicable after the member receives notice of the charge, bail condition or restriction.
The report must contain:
the name of the member filing the report;
the nature of, and a description of, the charge;
the date the charge was laid against the member;
the name and location of the court in which the charge was laid or in which the bail condition or restriction was imposed on or agreed to by the member;
every bail condition imposed on the member as a result of the charge;
any other restriction imposed on or agreed to by the member relating to the charge; and
the status of any proceedings with respect to the charge.
The report shall not contain any information that violates a publication ban. An additional report shall be filed by the member if there is a change in status of the charge or bail conditions.
Activities of the Transition Supervisory Officer*
From February 1, 2021, to April 30, 2021.
On behalf of Council:
received a quarterly report from the Registrar;
received the unaudited financial statements to December 31, 2020;
reviewed and approved the minutes for the December 3-4, 2020 Council meeting and the December 11, 2020 special meeting;
approved the framework for a consultation process that will inform the development of regulations and bylaws;
approved the framework for a member education program on sexual abuse prevention, including a bylaw amendment and proposed regulatory amendment to reflect notations on the public register and on members' certificates of qualification and registration;
approved a recommendation to the Minister of Education that the Teachers' Qualifications Regulation (Regulation 176/10) be amended to place a statement on a certificate of qualification and registration indicating successful completion of the Mathematics Proficiency Test;
approved a corresponding amendment to the College bylaws to allow for a statement on the public register indicating successful completion of the Mathematics Proficiency Test;
approved an amendment to the College bylaws to indicate that when terms, conditions or limitations imposed on a member by a decision or adopted by the Discipline Committee have been fulfilled, a notation stating that fact and the date of fulfillment will appear on the public register; and
amended the eligibility date for the funding for therapy and counselling program to permit funding for incidents that occurred prior to proclamation of the legislation on January 1, 2020.
On behalf of the Accreditation Committee:
in response to a notification from Redeemer University and in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Accreditation Regulation, ordered the revocation of accreditation of the Additional Qualification programs offered by the Department of Education of Redeemer University.
*The provincial government has appointed Paul Boniferro as Transition Supervisory Officer (TSO) to oversee the College's transition to a new governance structure. Boniferro assumes the role of Council and committees until the new structure is in place.
New AQs to support ASL & LSQ
The College applauds the provincial government's plan to provide high school students with the opportunity to learn American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) as a second language.
"Diversity and inclusion are foundational pillars of the College's mandate," said Paul Boniferro, Transition Supervisory Officer. "We have and will always welcome programs that create opportunities to introduce diverse lived experiences to classrooms."
The College is working closely with the Ministry of Education to develop new Additional Qualification (AQs) courses that will support teachers who will deliver the new ASL and LSQ courses in classrooms this fall.
"It's critical for all of Ontario's education stakeholders to work together and support student well-being," says College Registrar and CEO Dr. Derek Haime. "The introduction of these courses is another important step toward that goal. We look forward to continued collaboration with the government on this initiative."
Roster Appointees
The College maintains rosters of panellists for six committees: Accreditation, Accreditation Appeal, Registration Appeals, Investigation, Discipline, and Fitness to Practise.
Panels made up entirely of roster members will adjudicate matters in the absence of Council and committees, until December 31, 2021, for the duration of the College's transition to a new governance structure.
The College welcomes the following roster appointees:
JOSEPH ALLAN, OCT, Ottawa, is currently principal for the Centre de services scolaires au Cœur-des-Vallées, in Gatineau, Que.
PIER-OLIVIER ARSENAULT, OCT, Elliot Lake, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
PETER BAGNALL, OCT, Omemee, Ont., is a consultant, Religious Education, Family Life and Equity for the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board.
BRIAN BEAL, OCT, Midland, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers and has held different roles on several committees.
JACQUELINE BOULIANNE, OCT, Hawkesbury, Ont., was a consultant for the Association des gestionnaires de l'éducation franco-ontarienne, and a member of the board of Directors of the Roberts/Smart Centre and the Children's Aid Society of Prescott-Russell (a Valoris agency).
TODD BRIGHT, OCT, Niagara Falls, Ont., has served as education officer with the Ministry of Education and was the director of Bethlehem Housing and Support Services Niagara.
MITCH CHAMPAGNE, OCT, Peterborough, Ont., is a faculty member at the School of Education and Professional Learning, Trent University.
MARIE-LOUISE CHARTRAND, Ottawa, has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
RACHELLE COLEMAN, London, Ont., is both faculty and faculty adviser with Lambton College.
BOB COOPER, OCT, Toronto, has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
WILLIAM CORNET, Ottawa, has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
IRENE DEMBEK, OCT, Sudbury, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
LEISA DESMOULINS, Orillia, Ont., is an associate professor in the Aboriginal Education and the Graduate Studies & Research in Education department at Lakehead University.
BEN DRORY, Toronto, was an investigator for ADR Chambers Ombuds Office in Toronto.
GLENN ELLIS, OCT, Stittsville, Ont., has served as lead curriculum writer for a Communication Technology Additional Qualification course.
LAURA FEATHERSTONE, OCT, Haliburton, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
NATASHA FEGHALI, OCT, Windsor, Ont., has served as a board member for many organizations, including the Ontario Modern Language Teachers' Association.
LOIS FIGG, Toronto, is a member of the Social Benefits Tribunal and has also adjudicated matters for different divisions at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
REBECCA FORTE, OCT, Toronto, has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
CATHERINE FOY, OCT, Cobourg, Ont., was superintendent of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.
BEVERLEY FREEDMAN, OCT, Maple, Ont., is an international consultant, providing pedagogical leadership in Canada and around the world.
DIANE L. FREEMAN, Waterloo, Ont., has served as a member on both the Discipline and Accreditation committees for the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.
TIM GERNSTEIN, OCT, Toronto, was the vice-chair of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
ERIN GLEN, OCT, London, Ont. has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
ANDREW GLENNY, Minden, Ont., has served on several committees for the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.
WILLIAM GOLDBLOOM, Toronto, is the founder of WG Solutions and is a workplace investigator, mediator and trainer.
CHRIS HACHKOWSKI, OCT, North Bay, Ont., is an assistant professor with the Schulich School of Education, Nipissing University.
NINA JAISWAL, OCT, Oakville, Ont., is the superintendent of education for the Peel District School Board.
AZEEM KHAN, Pickering, Ont., has served as director of the Ontario Board of Funeral Services.
RICHARD LAMB, OCT, London, Ont., is an education liaison with the Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex.
COLLEEN LANDERS, Timmins, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
JOSÉE LANDRIAULT, OCT, Georgetown, Ont., served as a roster member for the Discipline and Fitness to Practise committees of the Ontario College of Teachers.
ÉLAINE LEGAULT, OCT, Bowmanville, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
YASSER LEHETA, OCT, Niagara Falls, Ont., has served as a vice-principal and division leader.
CHRISTIAN LORTIE, OCT, Orléans, Ont., is a principal for the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario.
ALAIN MARTEL, OCT, Embrun, Ont., is an education consultant and former superintendent of education for the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l'Est ontarien.
MARLÈNE MARWAH, Toronto, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
CATHY MCCANN-KYTE, OCT, Pembroke, Ont., is a principal and a part-time instructor at St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University.
KEVIN MCCARTHY, Toronto, is director, strategy, for the College of Nurses of Ontario.
JENNIFER MCMASTER, OCT, Gananoque, Ont., has served as course instructor for faculties of education at two universities.
SYLVIA MOUSTACALIS, Toronto, is an executive director of GVS Management Consultants, offering consultation to health-care providers and organizations.
RAMONA NAZARETH, OCT, Caledon, Ont., is the guidance counsellor, co-operative and technical education teacher, and curriculum department head, technology, with the Peel District School Board.
RYAN NEEPIN, OCT, Toronto, is a sessional instructor, Indigenous Education, for the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)/University of Toronto.
SARA NOUINI, OCT, Port Carling, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
BONNIE OAKES CHARRON, Ottawa, has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
JOAN A. PAJUNEN, Kilworthy, Ont., has held various roles with different regulatory bodies and organizations.
CLAUDIA PATENAUDE-DANIELS, OCT, Pelham, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
WANDA PERCIVAL, Lindsay, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
GARY PIETERS, OCT, Toronto, is a principal with the Toronto District School Board.
JAMES JEFFREY PIRO, OCT, Stratford, Ont., has served as a roster member of the accreditation panel for the Ontario College of Teachers, chair of the Technological Education Board Leads of Ontario, and director of the Ontario Cooperative Education Association.
TOM POTTER, Burlington, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
NICOLA POWADIUK, OCT, Ottawa, has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
SAMANTHA PRESCOTT, OCT, Sudbury, Ont., is an associate lawyer specializing in family and child welfare law, including appeals.
EMILE RAMLOCHAN, Toronto, has held numerous roles as a tribunal member, mediator, adjudicator, and neutral dispute resolution professional.
ANNE RESNICK, Toronto, has held numerous leadership roles at the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
DOUGLAS REYNOLDS, Mississauga, Ont., served on the board of governors for the Ontario College of Trades.
JONATHAN ROSE, Kingston, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
ANDREA RUSH, Toronto, is a partner at Blaney McMurtry LLP.
CLAUDETTE RUTHERFORD, OCT, Stouffville, Ont., serves as a committee member for several organizations, including the Strategic Education Outcomes Committee and Ontario Children's Aid Society.
ROSEMARY SADLIER, OCT, Toronto, was a member of Council for the College of Early Childhood Educators.
JESSICA SAFFRAN REIMERS, OCT, Windsor, Ont., has held numerous roles in education, including director of professional development in Florida, and principal with the Greater Essex County District School Board.
DAPHNE SIMON, Toronto, is the executive director at the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators and an adjudicator with the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, City of Toronto.
JASMINIE SINGH, OCT, Markham, Ont., is a principal with the Toronto District School Board.
PAULINE SMART, Cloyne, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
JOY SOMMERFREUND, London, Ont., served as president of Council at the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.
ANNIE SONG, Thornhill, Ont., is a case manager, Investigations and Resolutions, with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
LINDA STAUDT, OCT, Windsor, Ont., has served on two Accommodation Review committees for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.
MYRNA TULANDI, Toronto, is a lawyer and presiding member on the Consent and Capacity Board, adjudicating matters on mental health.
BENEDICTA UBANI, Vaughan, Ont., is a lawyer with Benny Ubani Law.
STÉPHANE VALLÉE, OCT, Thunder Bay, Ont., has been a member of Council for the Ontario College of Teachers.
RAVIL VELI, North Bay, Ont., is the CEO of the North Bay Public Library.
SÉBASTIEN VILLENEUVE, OCT, Kapuskasing, Ont., is a principal with the Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières.
HANNO WEINBERGER, Burlington, Ont., served on councils and committees for numerous regulators, including the Ontario College of Teachers.
KIMBERLEY WESTFALL-CONNOR, Barrie, Ont., is president and chair of Council for the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.
