Rogue Trustee Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey leaves York Region school board reeling

Politicians at various levels denounce xenophobic comments posted by Terrell-Tracey's Facebook account

Yorkregion.com
December 11, 2018
Kristin Rushowy

She was duly elected -- but is she truly wanted?

Despite repeated requests from parents and community members for Trustee Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey to resign from the York Region school board for racist comments that appeared on her Facebook page, she can’t be forced out.

So now, trustees and local politicians are doing what they can to signal to the community that such views are abhorrent while looking for ways to make sure no other board finds itself in the same situation.

The board’s plight has caught the attention of Education Minister Lisa Thompson, who said the government’s "top priority is to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and educators".

The actions of the trustee in question are unacceptable and do not reflect this priority," Thompson also said. "We are continuing to monitor the situation as it evolves. We expect the school to board to listen to the voices of students, parents, school councils and the community in working to ensure positive outcomes are met."

During the election campaign, postings on Terrell-Tracey’s Facebook account took aim at her rival, Lena Singh, for being an immigrant.

"We need a trustee that was born in Canada … (Singh) was born and raised in Guyana. You deserve to know," said the post. Terrell-Tracey has alternatively said her account was hacked, but also apologized for the comments.

In a previous email to the Star, Terrell-Tracey said "I am very sorry that this has happened to our community ... The written Facebook comments are not from me and they do not reflect me as I am a fun-loving inclusive person."

When asked about the unprecedented meeting held Monday in Aurora after trustees were sworn in, where parents had a chance to express their upset and anger -- and where they urged her to step down -- she said in part, via text message, that “the majority of people that voted for trustee in both Whitchurch-Stouffville and East Gwillimbury elected me ... My supporters are from many religious, all genders and many cultures.”

Of her detractors, Terrell-Tracey said that she is "one of the boys and this is why they do not like me."

"A person that doesn’t stay quiet in the kitchen is why they do not like me. I have many male qualities, that traditionalists do not like. I accept everyone equally."

She also wrote: "I am done with radical activists using fear tactics to denounce our Canadian democracy! I won the election fair and square and therefore I am now here as our trustee for 4 years to serve and protect All our students equally."

Local MPP Paul Calandra (Markham-Stouffville) said he and his staff have reached out to York, and are "going to work with the board ... just to monitor all aspects of the situation."

"Look -- she’s the trustee for my kids’ school, and first and foremost, everyone has to feel welcome,” he said. “We are a very diverse community ... the comments she reportedly made, under no circumstances are they acceptable to anybody."

Because Terrell-Tracey has been officially installed as a trustee, her conduct can now be scrutinized by the board’s own integrity commissioner.

That position was created at the behest of former education minister Mitzie Hunter, who sent in investigators following complaints of racism and dysfunction at all levels of the board. The board also established a human rights office.

Hunter said community members are "up in arms over this situation and are concerned that this will consume the time and focus of the board ... (the board) must make use of all its resources to resolve this unfortunate situation."

Calandra said there’s more that can be done before the next election, including looking at how Terrell-Tracey was elected despite the offensive social media postings.

"We have to do something about how we elect trustees, given the importance of the job and how much money they are spending," Calandra said. "It’s become clear to me that we have to do a better job of promoting (trustee positions) and finding a better way of electing them."

Parents he’s heard from have suggested holding trustee elections on their own -- two years after municipal ones -- and holding all-candidates meetings in schools, as well as the vote itself.

He is also considering introducing a private members’ bill next year that would allow for the removal of rogue trustees.

In the meantime, there are steps the York board can take, said political science Professor Nelson Wiseman.

"The board is stuck with her -- but I don’t think that makes them toothless," said Wiseman of the University of Toronto, saying fellow trustees could try to sideline or exclude her from some activities.

"With creativity, sanctions can be imposed by the board itself, and even more severe sanctions by the province," he said.

Ryerson University’s Myer Siemiatycki said by law there are very few grounds to remove an elected municipal politician -- including continued unexplained absences or serious criminal convictions, which has happened.

"What’s necessary in this situation for the current school board in York to really be strong and resolute in signalling to the community, and to all of its internal staff ... how committed it is to human rights and equity and diversity. It would be important for the York board to pass resolutions along the lines" of that, he said.

The politics professor said trustees should also consider passing a resolution calling on Terrell-Tracey "to issue a public and personal apology" to Singh.

"I think what’s important now, in the midst of the past controversy and this current controversy, the current elected board has to come out strongly and clearly," he said.

"The ball is in their court."

Terrell-Tracey, who represents East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouffville, said shortly after the election that she would resign -- saying she understands that “some of my comments were hurtful and offensive and I am sorry” -- but then changed her mind.

Chair Corrie McBain has called the comments "xenophobic, racist and hurtful … (the board) works to create safe, equitable and inclusive learning and working environments for all our students, their families and our staff."

McBain said Friday that trustees are looking at some recommendations to come out of the special meeting and parents’ concerns about Terrell-Tracey being a part of the board.

Terrell-Tracey has to be allowed on board committees, as per the bylaws, but McBain noted no one trustee has control over decisions.

"This is not the way any board would want to be starting out," McBain said of the controversy -- and indeed many at the special meeting noted the York’s progress on equity issues.

Trustees next meet on Tuesday and action will be taken in light of what they’ve heard, McBain added, and that should give them "the confidence that we are doing everything we can to honour our values."